OpenAI will stagger access to its newest flagship AI model, GPT-5.6 Sol, after a request from the Trump administration to restrict early deployment to government-cleared customers. The company said access will require U.S. government clearance before customers can use the model, describing the approach as a limited preview for trusted partners. The move reflects an expanded U.S. approach to frontier AI risk management, following prior actions tied to export controls and cybersecurity capability concerns. OpenAI said it is previewing capabilities after discussions ahead of launch, while it also signaled opposition to making such government-access processes a permanent default. For higher education and research users, the development underscores continued constraints on access to the most capable AI systems, shaping what tools students and faculty can adopt—and under what approvals.