Bottom line: OpenAI proactively restricts access to GPT-5.6 at government request to limit misuse risks in cybersecurity and vulnerability discovery.
The US government has directed OpenAI to throttle access to its new GPT-5.6 series model. Only a pre-agreed group of partners receives access to the preview version, initially exclusively in the United States.
OpenAI has significantly restricted access to its latest AI model in the GPT-5.6 series. The company is distributing preview versions only to a small group of trusted partners. The measure was taken at the request of the US government. Initial releases were granted only in the United States; expansion to partners in other countries is set to begin in the coming week.
The most powerful model in the series, called Sol, can independently execute tasks in programming, biology, and cybersecurity, according to OpenAI. This makes it particularly valuable for legitimate applications but also poses risks: AI systems of this performance level could be misused as cyber weapons, for example through automated vulnerability discovery in foreign systems. OpenAI emphasizes that safeguards against misuse have been implemented, but acknowledges that multi-stage attack chains cannot be fully assessed.
The approach comes in the context of recent conflicts with competitors: Anthropic initially released its new flagship model without restrictions, but was forced to withdraw it days later under government pressure. US authorities had argued that Anthropic had not adequately reviewed security measures and demanded restriction to US companies and individuals. Anthropic subsequently blocked vulnerability discovery in the public version.
OpenAI signals that it does not view government-controlled access as a long-term model, but rather as a pragmatic approach to safely navigate the preview phase. The statement can be read as a critical positioning against permanent regulatory solutions.
Source: www.it-daily.net · Published June 27, 2026
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