OpenAI's ChatGPT 5.6 Release Limited to Government-Approved Customers

In a significant development, OpenAI has announced that it will initially restrict access to its latest AI model, ChatGPT 5. 6, to only those customers approved by the federal government. This move comes after the US government recently introduced a voluntary review process for AI companies to assess their more powerful models before public release. According to a staff memo from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the company will work with federal leaders to approve access to the new model on a customer-by-customer basis, with a broader release expected a couple of weeks later.

The decision appears to be influenced by interactions with several government agencies, including the Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. This development raises questions about the voluntary nature of the review process, particularly after OpenAI's rival Anthropic was recently directed to disable access to two of its models due to security concerns. As the government works to create a framework for assessing new AI models, it remains to be seen how this process will unfold and what implications it may have for the broader AI industry. OpenAI has stated that it does not intend for this limited release to be a long-term model, and will work with the government and other industry players to establish a more sustainable approach for future releases.

Source: Engadget