Technology — OpenAI moves ahead with new model release

View Online Technology Technology The Big Story  OpenAI to publicly release new model after delay OpenAI will release its most advanced model series, GPT 5.6, to the public Thursday after delaying the public rollout at the request of the Trump administration. © AP Photo/Alex Brandon/Michael Dwyer The company announced the move on the social platform X late Tuesday night. CEO Sam Altman added “happy building” in a separate post.   The Hill has reached out to OpenAI for further comment.   The decision, first reported by Axios, comes nearly two weeks after OpenAI announced the model series would only be previewed with a group of partners before a public rollout.   The ChatGPT maker opted out of a public release at the time at the behest of the U.S. government, which asked the company to delay due to cybersecurity concerns. The partners’s participation was also shared with the government, OpenAI said.   A White House official said on Wednesday the Trump administration did not give OpenAI a “green light” approval or clearance to release its models, stating “no such permission is required or granted.”   “The Administration does not provide approvals for private companies to release AI models — decisions on timing and scope of releases rest entirely with the companies,” the official said.    While OpenAI did not apparently receive any binding order, the administration did place export controls on Anthropic’s newest models just weeks before, prompting the Claude maker to suspend the public’s access.    The Commerce Department eventually lifted these export controls on the models Fable 5 and Mythos 5. Anthropic then restored the public’s access to the models the next day.    Read more in a full report at TheHill.com. Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter, we’re Julia Shapero and Miranda Nazzaro — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future: Sam Eckholm grants rare access to military ops with YouTube docuseries   Don’t call Sam Eckholm an “influencer.” Eckholm, a former Air Force public affairs official, has gained more than three million followers across social media with his “Access Granted” program, which takes viewers inside some of the most cutting edge and secure military facilities around the globe. Eckholm has published more than three dozen episodes of “Access Granted,” giving unprecedented access to service members executing …  Full Story Collins calls on OMB to rescind parts of controversial proposed grant rule Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called on the Trump administration to withdraw some proposed changes to the federal grantmaking process, joining a growing chorus of opposition to a sweeping new proposal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).  Collins on Monday sent a letter to OMB Director Russell Vought asking the agency to withdraw portions of the rule that she said would potentially harm small and rural communities …  Full Story Trump administration eyes offshore space launches The Trump administration is considering allowing space launches and re-entry off U.S. coasts, according to a notice published Tuesday. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) said in a notice Tuesday that it was considering allowing the use of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf for offshore space activities. The Outer Continental Shelf refers to submerged lands that can be found along U.S. coastlines. Those lands …  Full Story The Refresh  News we’ve flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics: Apple to spend $30 billion on U.S.-made chips from Broadcom (Wall Street Journal) Bezos' Blue Origin valued at $130 billion in first outside fundraising round (CNBC) Crypto Corner  Wyden seeks to preserve Clarity's software developer protections © Greg Nash Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is urging Senate leaders to preserve a provision in the Clarity Act creating protections for software developers as the cryptocurrency bill heads to the Senate floor.   In a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday, Wyden argued they should keep the language passed out of the Senate Banking Committee in May.   The provision, also known as the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, would ensure that digital asset developers and service providers are not considered money transmitters under the law.   It has faced pushback from law enforcement groups in recent months, who argue the language provides too broad of an exemption. This issue has gained traction with key Democrats, most notably Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).   While Wyden acknowledged these concerns, he argued the provision would "ensure that law enforcement resources are focused toward criminals and other bad actors."   "Developers who make and release software that allows people to manage their own digital assets – and, critically, where the developer does not control user assets – should not be treated as money transmitters solely because they create or publish software," Wyden wrote in the letter obtained by The Hill on Wednesday.   "To treat them as such punishes technological innovation and advancement in strategically important areas at a time when the United States must remain globally competitive," he continued. Crypto Corner is a daily feature focused on digital currency and its outlook in Washington. Op-eds in The Hill Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill: NASA should remember how it helped SpaceX become what it is today   You’re all caught up. 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