Trump Administration Restricts Public Release of OpenAI’s New GPT-5.6 AI Model
The Trump administration has moved to limit the rollout of OpenAI’s latest artificial intelligence model, GPT-5.6, allowing access only to a select group of U.S. companies and organizations approved by the government.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, OpenAI had originally planned to release GPT-5.6 for wider public use.
However, the company reportedly revised its launch strategy after consultations with the White House, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office of the National Cyber Director.
The restricted rollout reflects growing concerns within the U.S. government over the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems, particularly those with advanced cybersecurity capabilities.
Reports indicate that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman informed employees in an internal memo that the limited release was not the company’s preferred approach.
He reportedly expressed hope that future cooperation with the government would lead to a more consistent framework for launching advanced AI models.
The decision comes as the White House continues to tighten oversight of cutting-edge AI technologies.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order encouraging AI developers to submit their most advanced models for government review before public release.
The administration’s move followed concerns surrounding Anthropic’s Fable 5 model, which was withdrawn shortly after launch amid questions over the strength of its safety protections.
OpenAI has also previously limited access to its GPT-5.5-Cyber model because of its advanced cyber capabilities.
While the executive order outlines a voluntary review process, officials are still developing detailed standards for assessing new AI models.
The lack of clear guidelines has left many technology companies uncertain about how future releases will be handled.
In a statement, the White House said it is continuing to work with leading AI developers to establish shared safety measures as the technology advances.
OpenAI has not publicly commented on the timeline for a broader release of GPT-5.6.
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