The Trump administration will approve enterprise customer access on a case-by-case basis, a softer approach than the export control ultimatum issued to rival Anthropic.
OpenAI will release its next major model, GPT-5.6, in a restricted preview rather than a broad launch, following a request from the Trump administration citing potential security concerns. [1]
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman disclosed the arrangement to employees during a company Q&A on Wednesday, according to reporting by The Information. [1] Under the plan, access will initially be limited to a small group of enterprise customers, with the federal government itself approving each customer on a case-by-case basis during the preview period. [1]
The approach contrasts sharply with how the administration handled rival AI company Anthropic earlier this month. [1] Anthropic received an ultimatum requiring it to suspend access to its Mythos 5 and Fable 5 models entirely, and an export control directive barred “foreign nationals” — including Anthropic employees who were not U.S. citizens — from accessing those systems. [1]
The divergent treatment of the two companies has drawn attention across the technology industry, particularly given that the Trump administration had previously signaled it would take what it described as a “speed wins” approach to artificial intelligence and promote an American AI exports program. [1]
Sources
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