- OpenAI announces three new AI models in the GPT-5.6 series
- The flagship Sol model is accompanied by Terra and Luna
- Access is currently restricted, based on requests from the US government.
OpenAI has announced new GPT-5.6 model updates for ChatGPT, although for now they are only available to a select group of “trusted associations and organizations” – a restriction requested by the US government, which OpenAI doesn’t seem too happy with.
“We do not believe this type of government access process should become the standard in the long term,” OpenAI’s announcement explains. “It keeps the best tools for the users, developers, enterprises, cyber defenders and global partners who need them.”
There are three models in the series: Sol (the flagship), Terra (for “everyday work”) and Luna (the smallest, fastest and cheapest of the three). OpenAI says the model’s performance is “competitive” with GPT-5.5, with improvements in affordability, security, agency capabilities, encryption, biology, and cybersecurity.
Sol is the best model yet for deep thinking and complex agency work, OpenAI claims, and apparently matches the Anthropic Mythos model for cybersecurity tasks while using a third of the output tokens.
More security tests to come
GPT-5.6 Sol Preview: A Next Generation Model from r/singularity
The three models set a new standard for safeguards and protection against “adversarial pressure” according to OpenAI’s announcement. They must resist attempts to disguise user intent and jailbreak the model.
Those who have access to the GPT-5.6 models may encounter some seemingly unnecessary blocks and restrictions, OpenAI explains, while the security of AI updates is tested. Over time, feedback from early testers should make these updates more robust and ready for a full release.
Hopefully, we’ll get that release “in the next few weeks,” OpenAI says. The US government wants to conduct its own testing and evaluations, and while OpenAI is complying with those requests this time, it clearly doesn’t want this to be the new standard.
The mood of the users who remain on the sidelines for now seems to be one of resignation. “The days of the public having access to these frontier models are over,” writes one Redditor, while another says that “the divide has begun” between AI haves and have-nots.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
The best laptops for all budgets
