The White House is now controlling who gets to use OpenAI’s newest AI model

OpenAI’s next big AI model, GPT 5.6, won’t be released to the public right away. Instead, the company will share it only with a small group of trusted partners, and only after the Trump administration gives the green light for each one. According to reports, government officials will approve access on a case-by-case basis during a preview period.

This isn’t just OpenAI being cautious. The White House reportedly pressured the company to slow down, with agencies like the Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Science and Technology Policy pushing for a limited rollout. If all goes well, OpenAI hopes to open access to everyone in a couple of weeks.

The move mirrors what Anthropic did earlier this year with its Claude Mythos model, which it restricted to a select group of partners under its Project Glasswing program. Anthropic argued that the model was too powerful to release widely, raising questions about whether this was a genuine safety measure or a clever marketing tactic.

The Trump administration has shifted its stance on AI oversight. After initially taking a hands-off approach, it recently signed an executive order requiring certain AI companies to voluntarily submit new models for government testing before public release. The concern is that advanced AI models could be misused by cybercriminals, who are already using AI to write malware and even execute ransomware attacks autonomously.

This matters because it shows how seriously the government is now taking AI risks. While keeping powerful models out of the wrong hands is important, it also means fewer people get to benefit from the technology. The bigger question is whether these restrictions will actually prevent misuse or just delay the inevitable.

What happens next depends on how the limited release goes. If the government is satisfied, we could see a broader rollout soon. But if issues arise, the restrictions might stay in place longer, setting a precedent for how future AI models are released.

Is the government’s involvement a necessary safety step or an overreach that could stifle innovation

How do we balance the benefits of widespread AI access with the risks of misuse

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Filed under: AI, OpenAI, GPT56, Trump, AISafety