OpenAI has released its newest GPT-5.6 models to a small group of government-approved partners, following a U.S. government request to restrict access before public launch. While OpenAI complied this time, it has publicly stated that ongoing government oversight of AI releases should not become the default, citing concerns that such restrictions delay access to tools developers and enterprises need. The three models—Sol, Terra, and Luna—will reach broader availability in the coming weeks.
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OpenAI is limiting the release of its newest GPT-5.6 models—Sol (flagship), Terra (balanced), and Luna (faster, lower cost)—to a small group of trusted partners at the request of the U.S. government. The company plans to make them more broadly available to ChatGPT, Codex, and API users in the coming weeks.
Why it matters
The Trump administration is putting new pressure on AI companies to restrict advanced models before release, and OpenAI's compliance signals that government control over AI launches is becoming routine. OpenAI itself has pushed back, stating it does not believe 'this kind of government access process should become the long-term default' because it keeps powerful tools from users and developers who need them.
What to watch
Sol includes improved agentic capabilities (AI that operates autonomously) in coding, biology, and cybersecurity, and is competitive with Anthropic's Claude Mythos 5 while using a third of the output tokens. Pricing tiers range from $1 per million input tokens for Luna to $5 per million for Sol, with broader availability expected in the coming weeks.
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