U.S. government will decide who gets to use latest upgrade to ChatGPT
OpenAI has announced that the U.S. government will vet and approve users for its latest AI model, marking a new level of federal oversight over access to advanced artificial intelligence technology through ChatGPT.
Background
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has announced that its next major AI model will be released with a novel restriction: the U.S. government will screen and approve who can access it. This marks a sharp departure from the usual "open-to-all" approach of consumer AI products. The decision follows growing concern in Washington about advanced AI being used for cyberattacks, biological-weapons design, or disinformation by hostile states. OpenAI is effectively handing the Biden administration a veto over who gets cutting-edge AI capability — a move that raises questions about national security, corporate independence, and whether other AI labs will follow suit. Key players: OpenAI (CEO Sam Altman), the U.S. government (likely the Commerce Department or a new AI safety office), and rival labs like Google DeepMind and Anthropic, which now face pressure to adopt similar controls.