The Trump administration has asked OpenAI to stagger the release of its upcoming powerful artificial intelligence model, GPT-5.6. This request follows a similar move nearly two weeks after rival Anthropic PBC suspended its most capable offerings from the market under regulatory pressure.
OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman informed employees on Wednesday that the US government requested an initial release of GPT-5.6 to a short list of trusted partners before wider distribution. This information comes from a person familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously to discuss private details.
Altman conveyed to staffers that the US government has expressed increasing anxiety about the capabilities of advanced AI models. He emphasized the need for OpenAI to collaborate with the Trump administration on any input officials may have regarding safety and restrictions for upcoming models, even if the company holds differing views. Altman did not explicitly reference the Anthropic situation during the meeting.
The initial release of GPT-5.6 will involve 20 partners. Access to the model will be facilitated through Amazon’s Bedrock software platform. OpenAI declined to comment on the matter.
A White House official stated that the Trump administration continues to collaborate with frontier AI labs. This collaboration aims to develop shared approaches for addressing the challenges associated with scaling AI technology. The Information previously reported some details of the meeting.
Earlier this month, Anthropic shut off global access to its two most advanced AI offerings, Mythos 5 and Fable 5. This action occurred after the government ordered the company to restrict foreign nationals, both inside and outside the US, from using the models due to national security concerns. Anthropic has since engaged in discussions with the US government to restore access to these models.
The US government’s actions signal a willingness by the Trump administration to exert control over the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence sector. This unprecedented move highlights growing regulatory scrutiny over the development and deployment of advanced AI capabilities.
The long-term implications for AI development and accessibility remain unclear. Future interactions between government regulators and AI developers will determine the pace and scope of model releases. The industry will watch for further guidance on national security concerns and international access to advanced AI.