OpenAI has officially introduced its new GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna models, but initial access is restricted exclusively to partners approved by the United States Government, complying with a direct request from the Trump administration to evaluate advanced artificial intelligence models prior to their broad release.
This decision responds to an executive order recently signed by President Donald Trump, which requires tech companies to submit their “frontier” AI models for a government review of up to 30 days before their public launch. Consequently, OpenAI has only granted access to a small group of partners approved by the United States Government, whose identities were validated by U.S. authorities.
Although OpenAI has stated that government access should not become the long-term default mode, the company justified this limitation as the most solid path to expand public access in the coming weeks while developing a permanent procedure for future artificial intelligence releases.
The new GPT-5.6 models: Sol, Terra, and Luna
The flagship model of this new generation is GPT-5.6 Sol, described by OpenAI as its most powerful version to date, especially in tasks related to cybersecurity, complex programming, and biology. Sol’s agentic capabilities are also superior for coding tasks, distinguishing it from previous versions.
OpenAI has not disclosed the names of the partners approved by the United States Government, but according to reports by Bloomberg News, the initial rollout covers approximately 20 trusted entities, which includes access through Amazon.com Inc.’s Bedrock platform.
30-day review period for advanced AI models
The new executive order establishes that tech companies must voluntarily grant the United States Government a 30-day period to review disruptive AI models. This regulatory framework modifies the deregulated approach that his Administration had previously maintained, and seeks to evaluate the impact of advanced systems like GPT-5.6 prior to their mass exposure.
OpenAI has reiterated that its goal is to offer GPT-5.6 broadly during the coming weeks, once the review process has been completed and a repeatable mechanism has been established for future frontier artificial intelligence releases.
Global impact on artificial intelligence development
Limited access for partners approved by the United States Government could influence the speed of global innovation, as users, developers, and companies outside this group will not be able to use the most advanced tools until access is expanded. OpenAI notes that this restriction is temporary and aims to prevent security risks without halting technological progress.
In conclusion, the launch of GPT-5.6 with restricted access for partners approved by the United States Government reflects a new balance between innovation and regulation, where national security is prioritized without ruling out future public access.
The international tech community hopes that this measure is only an intermediate step, and that access will soon be expanded beyond partners approved by the United States Government to a broader group of global users, thus enabling the general use of GPT-5.6’s capabilities.
