Scoop: Trump administration lifts restrictions on OpenAI's GPT 5.6

The U.S. Department of Commerce has given OpenAI the green light for a broad launch of its advanced GPT 5.6 model, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to Axios Tuesday.

Why it matters: The government and the world's most advanced AI companies are negotiating how people get access to powerful technologies case-by-case, in real time.

Driving the news: OpenAI expects to do a wide release of GPT 5.6 this week following additional testing and meetings between the company and government officials.

• Testing was done by the Center for AI Standards and Innovation within the Department of Commerce, with OpenAI sending technical experts who have remained in D.C. to address any questions that arise, the source said.

Context: OpenAI was only able to do a staggered release of 5.6 of government-approved entities last month, a move which echoed restrictions placed on Anthropic for its Mythos and Fable models.

• OpenAI said at the time that the staggered rollout was not its preferred way to release new models.
• The company also said AI firms and the government are operating before more concrete standards for releasing such models — called for in Trump's latest AI executive order — have been finalized.

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