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U.S. Commerce Department Lifts Ban on GPT-5.6, OpenAI Set for Full Launch This Week

U.S. Commerce Department Lifts Ban on GPT-5.6, OpenAI Set for Full Launch This Week

August 2, 2026
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U.S. Commerce Department Lifts Ban on GPT-5.6, OpenAI Set for Full Launch This Week

Axios reported that the U.S. Department of Commerce has officially approved OpenAI’s broad release of its advanced AI model, GPT-5.6. The model is expected to become publicly available after final preparations are completed this week. Previously, due to national security concerns, the U.S. government had required OpenAI to adopt a phased rollout strategy for GPT-5.6. Last month, the model was only accessible to a limited number of government-approved entities. With the restrictions now lifted, this temporary control measure has officially ended.

Technical teams based in Washington conducted testing that paved the way for approval. According to insiders, the pre-approval testing was carried out by the AI Standards and Innovation Center under the U.S. Department of Commerce. During the testing period, OpenAI sent a team of technical experts to Washington to promptly address any questions raised by government officials throughout the process. This series of intensive communication and repeated testing ultimately cleared the path for the model’s full release.

OpenAI had previously stated that phased release was not its preferred approach, and the company has consistently aimed to make GPT-5.6 available to a broader user base as quickly as possible. The shift from “limited to approved entities” to “mass release” indicates that the government evaluation team has sufficient confidence in the model’s safety. Notably, the earlier phased release approach resembled the restrictions imposed on Anthropic’s Mythos and Fable models. Both leading AI companies have followed a similar pattern of initial regulation followed by relaxation.

A new AI executive order is imminent, as a government-enterprise coordination framework takes shape. This release comes at a time when a new AI executive order is about to be issued. The order aims to establish a formal evaluation framework for the release of advanced AI models, shifting government reviews from temporary controls to institutionalized processes. OpenAI stated that AI companies and the U.S. government are now operating within the current framework, and their relationship is gradually transitioning from “adversarial regulation” to “collaborative evaluation.”

The lifting of restrictions on GPT-5.6 shows that the U.S. government is seeking a balance in AI regulation: it cannot let national security concerns overly suppress the competitiveness of domestic companies, while also maintaining caution toward the potential risks posed by cutting-edge models. With the implementation of a formal evaluation framework, the release of advanced AI models may soon follow a clearer pathway rather than relying on ad-hoc temporary controls. For OpenAI, the full release of GPT-5.6 is undoubtedly an important commercial relief. In a context where Anthropic is still facing export restrictions, OpenAI has obtained full marketing authorization first, and the competitive landscape may once again shift dramatically.

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