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OpenAI limits GPT-5.6 rollout after government request, says restrictions shouldn’t be the norm
General AIFriday, June 26, 2026 at 07:01 PM

OpenAI limits GPT-5.6 rollout after government request, says restrictions shouldn’t be the norm

Source: TechCrunch AI
Curated Summary

OpenAI is restricting the release of its new GPT-5.6 model lineup, including the flagship Sol, Terra, and Luna models, at the request of the U.S. government.

The company is sharing these models only with a small group of trusted partners whose participation has been disclosed to the administration.

This move follows similar pressure on Anthropic, which was ordered to remove access for foreign nationals from its Fable 5 model.

Dean Ball, a former White House AI advisor joining OpenAI, warns that this creates a de facto involuntary licensing regime that could hinder the U.S.

AI race against China.

OpenAI explicitly stated that such government access processes should not become the long-term default, calling the current restriction a short-term step.

The GPT-5.6 Sol model boasts improved agentic capabilities in coding, biology, and cybersecurity, with new reasoning modes that significantly increase token usage.

OpenAI is working with the administration to develop a new framework for future model releases to balance safety with broader availability.

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via TechCrunch AI

#openai#gpt-5.6#government-regulation#policy#anthropic

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