Trump Administration Tells OpenAI to Slow GPT-5.6 Rollout

The Trump administration has asked OpenAI to delay the broad launch of its advanced AI model GPT-5.6, citing national security and cybersecurity concerns. The request was made through the White House Office of the National Cyber Director, known as ONCD, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, or OSTP.

OpenAI agreed to a phased rollout instead of making the model widely available at once. Under the plan, only 20 government-approved partners will initially get access, and any additional customer seeking access would need approval from a government agency.

The restriction is described as one of the tightest launch strategies yet for a breakthrough AI system. The main worry is that powerful models could be misused for cyberattacks or to damage critical infrastructure.

The move comes shortly after the administration also ordered Anthropic to suspend broad availability of its AI models Fable 5 and Mythos 5. That earlier directive also included limits on access for foreign citizens, as the government reviewed the security implications of advanced AI systems. If confirmed, the decision could significantly delay access for businesses and developers compared with previous OpenAI launches.