OpenAI restricts GPT-5.6 access at the request of the US government
The GPT-5.6 preview was released to only about 20 companies with prior US government approval — a new pattern for model assessment ahead of public launch.
Access limited by government decision
On June 26, 2026, OpenAI confirmed that access to the GPT-5.6 preview is restricted to about 20 companies, all with participation previously approved by the US government.
A process still being built
According to the company, OpenAI is working with the US administration to establish a model-assessment framework and a repeatable process to apply to future releases — not just GPT-5.6.
Same backdrop as the Anthropic case
The announcement came in the same week the US government was weighing a partial reopening of access to Claude Mythos 5, underscoring that 2026 has been marked by greater direct US government involvement in the release of frontier models.
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