OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, announced on Friday that it is limiting the availability of its latest artificial intelligence model as per the request of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. This move is part of increased government scrutiny over AI technologies due to potential cybersecurity threats.
The new AI model, named GPT-5.6 Sol, will initially be restricted to a select group of approved partners sanctioned by the Trump administration, according to OpenAI. The company emphasized that this government access process should not become a permanent standard and considers this phase as a temporary measure before a wider release in the near future.
This decision by OpenAI to roll out its advanced AI system in stages comes after the government intervened with rival company Anthropic, the creator of the Claude chatbot. Anthropic recently took down its latest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, following a directive from Trump that prohibited their use by non-U.S. nationals.
The White House confirmed ongoing collaboration with leading AI research labs to address the challenges posed by the rapid expansion of AI technology. Concerns have been mounting since Anthropic warned earlier this year about the potential weaponization of its Mythos model by hackers to exploit software vulnerabilities in critical computer networks worldwide.
In a related development, President Trump signed an executive order in June requiring a 30-day national security assessment of advanced AI systems before their public release. OpenAI assured that its Sol model prioritizes identifying and fixing vulnerabilities rather than carrying out cyberattacks, though it acknowledged potential risks, particularly when combined with other tools.
Despite the government’s actions leading to the suspension of Fable by Anthropic, cybersecurity experts have questioned the basis for these measures. Alex Stamos, a cybersecurity expert from Stanford University, noted that the concerns raised lacked substantial evidence and criticized the impact on innovation and competition with China in the AI sector.
In conclusion, the evolving landscape of AI regulation and security measures underscores the delicate balance between advancing technological capabilities and mitigating potential risks in the digital realm.