OpenAI Delays GPT-5.6 Release After Government Request

OpenAI has reportedly delayed the broad release of its next major model, GPT-5.6, at the request of the U.S. government. Reuters and The Verge confirm this development. The Trump administration asked OpenAI to stagger the rollout due to security concerns. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees that GPT-5.6 would first go to select enterprise partners in a limited preview. The government will "approve access customer by customer during this preview period." The request came from the Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. This move is similar to an earlier directive that restricted non-U.S. access to other high-capability models. This trend suggests a broader government focus on controlling external access to advanced AI models. For those working with large models, this changes the timeline and scope for early integrations and testing.