OpenAI limited access to its next model, GPT-5.6 (codenamed Sol), so that it can only be used after customer-by-customer approval during a preview phase, The Decoder and The Next Web reported on June 26, 2026. According to the reports, Sam Altman told staff in an internal message that the US government asked OpenAI to narrow initial access, and OpenAI said it would roll out by approving customers one at a time during the preview window. The agencies cited include the Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, with cybersecurity cited as the rationale — though OpenAI has not published the terms, and there is no official government statement, so much of this rests on Altman's account to staff and reporting by The Information. This article separates the confirmed reporting from what remains unverified.

What Happened

OpenAI previewed GPT-5.6 (codenamed Sol) and chose a staggered rollout that narrows initial access, The Decoder and The Next Web reported. According to the reports, Sam Altman told staff in an internal message that the US government asked OpenAI to slow the release and limit access. OpenAI plans to open the model first to a short list of trusted partners and to defer broader availability by a couple of weeks. It is an unusual case in which a flagship release is paced by a government request rather than the company's own schedule.

The Rollout the Government Requested

The core of the US government's request is customer-by-customer approval during the preview period. The Decoder reported that GPT-5.6 access requires sign-off customer by customer during the preview, with OpenAI hoping for broader release a couple of weeks later. The Next Web summarized that initial access is restricted to a short list of trusted partners, with government approval required for each customer. Rather than blocking the model itself, the structure controls who gets to use it first.

Who Was Involved and Why

The agencies cited in the request include the Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The Decoder reported that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called Altman to warn against proceeding without sign-off from additional agencies. The rationale for the staggered rollout is cybersecurity, framed as reducing the risk of what a sufficiently capable model could do in the wrong hands. Reporting traces the request to a Trump administration executive order calling for voluntary AI model safety reviews.

What Has Not Been Confirmed

OpenAI has not published the specific terms of the arrangement in any official document, and that gap should be stated plainly. The Next Web noted that much of the detail rests on Altman's account to staff and on source-based reporting, with no official government statement. Performance figures for GPT-5.6, such as benchmarks, pricing, and a model card, are not confirmed in these reports. As for Altman's words on the request, his message reportedly stated, "We've made clear to the U.S. government that this is not our preferred long term model."

Summary

OpenAI staggered GPT-5.6 (codenamed Sol) behind customer-by-customer approval during a preview phase at the US government's request, The Decoder and The Next Web reported on June 26, 2026. The Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Science and Technology Policy were cited, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick intervened, and the rationale is cybersecurity tied to a Trump administration executive order. ASAP organized only the published reporting and, because OpenAI has not released the terms, did not speculate about the deal's details or the model's performance numbers.

Sources: The Decoder · The Next Web · OpenAI