OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, announced on Friday that it is limiting the launch of its latest artificial intelligence model following a request from the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. This move comes amidst increased government scrutiny of AI technologies that could pose cybersecurity threats.
The new AI model, named GPT-5.6 Sol, will initially be accessible only to a select group of authorized partners approved by the Trump administration, as stated by OpenAI. The company emphasized that this government review process should not become the standard practice in the long term.
OpenAI described this phase as a temporary measure before a wider release planned in the upcoming weeks. The decision to stagger the introduction of their advanced AI system aligns with recent actions taken by the government against Anthropic, a competitor of OpenAI known for developing the Claude chatbot.
Anthropic voluntarily took down its latest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, shortly after their public launch to comply with a directive preventing their utilization by non-U.S. individuals. The White House reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with cutting-edge AI research labs to address the challenges associated with scaling AI technology rapidly.
In response to an executive order signed by President Trump in June, OpenAI created the Sol model, which focuses on identifying and resolving vulnerabilities rather than engaging in cyberattacks. However, the company acknowledged potential unforeseen risks, especially in combination with other tools, prompting them to implement enhanced safeguards and a gradual release approach.
A group of cybersecurity experts criticized the government’s actions leading to the shutdown of Anthropic’s Fable model. Alex Stamos, a cybersecurity expert from Stanford University, expressed disbelief in the basis for the government’s decision, emphasizing that similar risks exist with publicly available AI models from various sources, including China.
Stamos, currently serving as the chief product officer at AI security firm Corridor and formerly the chief security officer at Meta, highlighted the counterproductive nature of hindering AI innovation in the race against China. The ongoing debate underscores the complexities and implications of AI oversight in the current technological landscape.