• OpenAI says its new GPT-5.6 AI model series will launch publicly on Thursday, July 9
• The rollout comes after reports that the US government approved a broader release following technical testing
• The US government is developing new security rules that could determine how powerful AI models are released in the future

The company behind ChatGPT says its latest and most powerful artificial intelligence model series will be released to the public on Thursday, July 9, following reports that the United States government has approved a wider rollout.

The new GPT-5.6 lineup, alongside other advanced AI models like Anthropic's Mythos series, has already sparked serious conversations. Why? Experts say these models have an unprecedented ability to spot weaknesses in computer code that hackers could potentially exploit.

That has raised national security concerns.

Back in late June, OpenAI revealed it had shared preview access to GPT-5.6 with only a small group of trusted US-based partners after a request from Washington.

For context, large language models are the engine behind ChatGPT and many of today's AI tools. They're designed to process massive amounts of digital information and generate human-like responses in seconds.

Meet the GPT-5.6 family

OpenAI's latest series comes in three versions:

• Sol: the company's new flagship model.
• Terra: a mid-range option built for everyday tasks.
• Luna: a faster, lower-cost model aimed at users who want speed without paying premium prices.

In a post on X on Tuesday, July 7, OpenAI confirmed the rollout.

"GPT-5.6 Sol, along with Terra and Luna, will launch publicly this Thursday. We're expanding preview access globally now," the company said, without sharing additional details.

White House gives the green light

According to Axios, citing a source familiar with the matter, the Trump administration approved a broad public launch of GPT-5.6 after technical testing and meetings between OpenAI and government officials.

AFP said it has contacted OpenAI, the White House and the US Department of Commerce for comments on the Axios report.

The development comes just days after a similar move involving OpenAI's biggest rival, Anthropic.

Last week, Anthropic announced it would begin restoring access to its most powerful AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, after Washington lifted restrictions on where those models could be released.

AI security is becoming a bigger issue

Before the launch of Mythos, President Donald Trump's administration had pushed for fewer regulations on AI companies, arguing that lighter rules would help the United States stay ahead of China in the global AI race.

Now, the US government is working on new criteria to determine which AI models should face additional security restrictions under a White House executive order.

OpenAI has also made its position clear.

In June, the company said it does not believe this type of government review process should become the long-term standard because it keeps "the best tools" away from users, businesses and others who need them.

OpenAI added that it is working with Washington to develop the cyber Executive Order framework and create a repeatable process for future AI model releases.

OpenAI is turning up the competition

Beyond performance, OpenAI is also making a pricing play.

The company says Terra will cost half as much as its predecessor, GPT-5.5, as it looks to attract more customers in an increasingly competitive market dominated by Anthropic and Google.

The business stakes are rising just as fast as technology.

Both OpenAI and Anthropic have confidentially filed IPO documents with US regulators and are targeting public listings at valuations approaching $1 trillion, raising the commercial stakes in the fast-moving AI arms race.

OpenAI releases text-to-video model, Sora, for ChatGPT Plus and Pro users

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed AI powerhouse, unveiled its highly anticipated text-to-video generation tool, Sora, marking a significant milestone in generative AI technology.

Launched on December 9, 2024, Sora allows users to create videos up to 20 seconds long in 1080p resolution using text prompts, image uploads, or remix tools.

OpenAI aimed to refine Sora while promoting responsible generative AI use, setting a high standard for future innovations.