OpenAI limits access to new models due to government security concerns

OpenAI just dropped three new AI models. You just can’t use them yet.

On June 26, the company announced GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna, but instead of the usual fanfare followed by immediate public access, OpenAI is keeping things behind velvet ropes. Only a select group of government-approved “trusted partners” will get early access, with broader availability coming after a review period. The reason: the Trump administration asked them to.

The White House called first

Before OpenAI made its announcement, it previewed the models’ capabilities to government officials. Those officials, focused on cybersecurity and national security implications, then requested that the company limit who gets to play with the new toys.

An executive order from the Trump administration encourages a 30-day pre-release security review by AI companies before launching advanced models.