OpenAI told employees that its next model, ChatGPT 5.6, will not roll out to the public immediately. A staff memo from CEO Sam Altman says the federal government will vet each customer during a preview phase, with broader availability slated for weeks later. The move follows President Donald Trump’s recent executive order demanding a voluntary federal review of powerful AI systems and could set a precedent for future AI deployments.

Officials from the Office of the National Cyber Director, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have been cited as influencing the rollout. OpenAI emphasized the approach is temporary, stating it is not the “preferred long‑term model” and that it will work with industry to devise a sustainable release framework and coordinate with congressional oversight.

Anthropic’s recent shutdown of two models after a similar federal directive shows the administration’s willingness to block AI tools from foreign users. OpenAI’s staggered launch signals that large‑scale models will now face government‑level gatekeeping, reshaping how developers and enterprises access cutting‑edge AI. Companies must now seek explicit approval before deploying ChatGPT 5.6 or risk regulatory penalties and loss of market access.