OpenAI Delays GPT-5.6 Release at Trump Admin Request
Original: OpenAI Has New AI Models. Here’s Why You Can’t Use Them
Why This Matters
Government AI model approval processes establish regulatory precedent affecting US AI competitiveness and frontier lab operations.
OpenAI confirmed Friday it is delaying public release of GPT-5.6 models at the Trump White House's request. The models will first be shared with government-preapproved customers, with broader access planned in coming weeks, citing cybersecurity concerns.
OpenAI announced Friday that it is delaying the public release of its next-generation GPT-5.6 AI models following a request from the Trump administration. The company will initially provide access to a small set of government-preapproved customers before gradually expanding availability. OpenAI stated in a blog post that it does not believe government access approval should become a long-term standard, arguing that such requirements keep advanced tools from users, developers, enterprises, and cybersecurity professionals who need them. The company expressed hope for broader availability within weeks while working with the administration to develop a framework for future model releases. The delay comes two weeks after the White House issued an export control directive to Anthropic, forcing that company to take its most advanced models offline. President Trump's recent executive order aimed to address cybersecurity concerns by establishing a voluntary 30-day advance notice process for AI labs to share models with the government. However, OpenAI executives noted that no formal voluntary framework currently exists, creating an uncertain interim period where the process does not appear truly voluntary. The administration's actions reflect growing concerns about the cybersecurity capabilities of advanced AI models, even as the Trump administration has previously sought to reduce regulatory burdens on AI development.