According to Axios, the U.S. Department of Commerce has officially approved OpenAI's large-scale release of its advanced AI model, GPT-5.6, which is expected to be officially launched to the public after completing final preparations this week. Previously, due to national security concerns, the U.S. government had required OpenAI to adopt a phased release strategy for GPT-5.6. Last month, the model was only permitted to be made available to a limited number of entities approved by the government. Now that the restrictions have been lifted, it marks the official end of this temporary control measure.

Technical Teams Based in Washington, Testing Paves the Way for Approval

According to insiders, the testing work prior to the approval 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 during the testing process. This series of intensive communication and repeated testing ultimately paved the way for the model's full release.

OpenAI had previously clearly stated that the phased release was not its preferred approach, and the company has always wanted to quickly make GPT-5.6 available to a broader user base. From "limited to approved entities" to "mass release," this shift indicates that the government evaluation team has sufficient confidence in the model's safety. It is worth noting that the previous phased release approach was similar to the restrictions imposed on the models Mythos and Fable from Anthropic. Both leading AI companies have followed a similar path of "initial regulation followed by relaxation."

New AI Executive Order Imminent, 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 the formal evaluation framework, the release of advanced AI models may soon follow a clearer "passage" path, 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 promotion authorization first, and the competitive landscape may once again change dramatically.