OpenAI releases latest ChatGPT model after delay over White House cybersecurity concerns

Staggered release of ChatGPT 5.6 follows similar restrictions on rival firm Anthropic’s latest AI models

OpenAI released its latest advanced AI model, called https://www.theguardian.com/technology/chatgpt">ChatGPT 5.6, on Thursday after earlier delaying the public rollout over US government concerns about cybersecurity.

The https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration">Trump administration had requested last month that https://www.theguardian.com/technology/openai">OpenAI limit the release to a small group of government-approved users.

OpenAI complied with the White House’s request last month.

The company stated in a blogpost that it had briefed government officials on ChatGPT 5.6’s capabilities and restricted the model to trusted partners at their behest.

The product’s wider release came after additional testing by the government’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation agency, https://www.axios.com/2026/07/08/gpt-sol-ultra-openai-anthropic-grok">according to Axios.