The U.S. Department of Commerce has given the green light for a wide release of OpenAI's newest model, GPT-5.6, according to reporting that cites a source familiar with the matter. OpenAI is expected to make the model available later this week now that the Commerce Department has cleared a broad launch.
The approval comes after an additional period of testing and direct engagement between OpenAI engineers and Commerce Department staff. The review work was carried out by the Commerce Department's Center for AI Standards and Innovation, with OpenAI technical personnel remaining in Washington to respond to questions during the evaluation.
Previously, the Trump administration required OpenAI to roll out GPT-5.6 in stages, restricting initial access to entities specifically approved by the government. OpenAI had indicated that a phased release was not its preferred approach and noted that the government was still in the process of developing formal standards for releasing advanced AI models.
Axios reported the approval and the expected timing of release, citing a person familiar with the matter. The reporting said the Commerce Department authorized a broad launch after the additional testing and meetings.
Regulatory context in the AI sector has been active this year. The Commerce Department previously banned foreign access to Anthropic's Mythos and Fable models in June, forcing Anthropic to withdraw those offerings from certain markets. The restriction on Fable was lifted last week, which allowed customer access to resume.
This sequence - initial restrictions, testing by a government center, and eventual approval - reflects an ongoing dialogue between high-capability AI developers and U.S. regulators as formal release standards are developed. For OpenAI, the Commerce Department's sign-off removes the earlier constraint that would have kept GPT-5.6 limited to government-approved entities.
While the approval clears the path for a wider deployment of GPT-5.6, the article's sourcing indicates the decision followed targeted testing and direct technical exchanges rather than a single public announcement of new regulatory standards. The Commerce Department's Center for AI Standards and Innovation played the central role in evaluating the model during this review period.
As noted in the reporting, Anthropic experienced a comparable restriction earlier in the year and has since had at least one of those limits lifted, allowing resumed customer access to a previously restricted model.
Key implications include the easing of immediate access constraints for OpenAI and the continued prominence of the Commerce Department's Center for AI Standards and Innovation in evaluating advanced models. The review process and the government's evolving standards for model releases remain relevant to developers, customers, and policymakers.