OpenAI is restricting preview access to our latest GPT models at the request of the US government.
The company said it previewed the features of its new series of GPT-5.6 models, including Sol, Terra and Luna, to the U.S. government ahead of Friday’s launch.
“At their request, we will begin with a limited preview to a small group of trusted partners whose participation is shared with governments before a broader release,” the company said.
OpenAI said it was complying as part of a previous agreement with the Department of Defense that allowed the agency to use its AI models.
OpenAI said the new model will be widely available to the public in the coming weeks.
The limited release of GPT-5.6 comes after OpenAI’s biggest rival, Anthropic, was forced to revoke access to its latest models, Mythos and Fable, on June 12 following the Trump administration’s sweeping export controls. Anthropic has not yet restored access to either model.
Ever since Anthropic announced the limited release of Mythos Preview in April, discussions about the safety of AI models have proliferated. At the time, Anthropic said it would only release its most powerful model to a limited number of cybersecurity and trusted companies because of Mythos’ advanced hacking capabilities. The revelation that AI models can easily discover vulnerabilities in existing software and cyber infrastructure surprised investors and world leaders.
When Anthropic first released Fable 5 on June 5, it said the model belonged to the “Mythos class” but had enough safeguards in place to make it suitable for wider public release.
President Donald Trump ultimately decided to go easy on the federal government, warning that onerous federal regulations could cause the United States to lose its lead over China in the global generative AI race. The executive order he signed on June 2 allows major AI model makers to voluntarily submit advanced models for federal review up to 30 days before publication.
In a statement, OpenAI expressed hope that government restrictions will not become a permanent feature.
“We do not believe this type of government access process should become the long-term default,” the company said. “We secure the best tools from the users, developers, enterprises, cyber defenders, and global partners who need them.”