OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch its upcoming ChatGPT 5.6 model through a phased rollout. According to a new report, early access to the AI model may be limited to customers who receive approval from the US government, with a broader public release expected a few weeks later.
The report claims that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman informed employees in an internal memo that access during the preview phase will be granted on a customer-by-customer basis, subject to federal approval. A wider rollout is reportedly planned after the initial testing period.
The proposed rollout comes shortly after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order encouraging AI companies to voluntarily submit their most advanced AI models for federal review before making them publicly available. The initiative aims to establish a standardized framework for evaluating powerful AI systems before their public release.
According to the report, OpenAI does not consider the current approval process to be a permanent solution. The company has reportedly told the US government that it will continue working with policymakers and industry partners to create a more practical and sustainable framework for future AI model launches.
Multiple US Agencies Reportedly Involved
According to The Information, several US government agencies are helping shape the review process, including the Office of the National Cyber Director, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Department of Commerce. However, none of the agencies has officially confirmed the reported approval mechanism.
The report also notes that the planned rollout comes after recent restrictions affecting rival AI company Anthropic. Earlier this month, Anthropic reportedly suspended access to two of its latest AI models after receiving a federal directive that limited their availability to foreign nationals over security concerns.
These developments have sparked renewed debate over how voluntary the US government’s AI review process will be in practice. Although the executive order describes the reviews as voluntary, recent actions involving both OpenAI and Anthropic suggest that federal oversight of advanced AI models could become more significant before public deployment.
OpenAI has not officially confirmed either the launch timeline for ChatGPT 5.6 or the reported government approval process. If implemented, this would mark one of the first major AI launches where early access is managed through a government-supervised preview program before becoming widely available to the public.