AI
OpenAI to delay GPT-5.6 release under Trump administration pressure
The Trump administration has requested OpenAI stagger its next flagship model's rollout, with government approval required for customer access.
The Verge
The Trump administration has reportedly asked OpenAI to slow its deployment of GPT-5.6, citing national security concerns. According to The Information, CEO Sam Altman told staff Wednesday that the company will release the model in limited preview form, granting access only to select enterprise customers.
During this preview period, the federal government will review and approve individual customer access requests on a case-by-case basis—a significant constraint on OpenAI's typical go-to-market strategy.
Uneven regulatory treatment#
The move reflects a more lenient approach than the administration took with OpenAI's rival Anthropic, which received an ultimatum this month to suspend access to its Mythos 5 and Fable 5 models. The directive prohibited "foreign nationals" from using the technology, including Anthropic employees who aren't US citizens.
This regulatory inconsistency has created friction across the tech industry, particularly given the Trump administration's earlier public commitment to a "speed wins" approach to AI and support for American AI exports. The heavier-handed tactics now underway have sparked wider concerns about selective enforcement.
