OpenAI
GPT-5.6
v5.6 · frontier · Released June 27, 2026
Updated June 27, 2026
Full public launch delayed at US government request. Limited access to vetted partner organizations whose details were shared with authorities.
Enterprise guidance
GPT-5.6 public availability is pending clearance from US government review. Access is currently limited to vetted OpenAI partner organizations. If your organization has a direct OpenAI partnership, contact your account representative to inquire about early access. For all other organizations, GPT-4o is fully available and cleared for enterprise use without restriction — it remains the recommended default.
Active Compliance Flags1
US government requested delay of full public launch. Access limited to vetted partners. Consistent with EO Section 3 covered frontier model framework.
Primary source →Data handling
Default data retention
Not yet established — expected to follow GPT-4o enterprise terms once generally available
Zero-retention available
YesVia: Expected via OpenAI Enterprise and Azure OpenAI once cleared for general availability
API data used for training
NoOpenAI enterprise API data is not used for training by default — expected to apply to GPT-5.6 under the same terms.
GDPR Data Processing Agreement
AvailableHIPAA Business Associate Agreement
Not availableNot yet established for GPT-5.6; expected to follow GPT-4o Enterprise path at general availability.
Data residency options
US; international regions expected via Azure OpenAI once government clearance is granted
Vendor compliance certifications
Key use restrictions
- —Access: vetted OpenAI partner organizations only — no general API or ChatGPT availability pending government review
- —Enterprise procurement not available to general-market organizations at this time
- —Recommended alternative for organizations needing OpenAI capabilities now: GPT-4o (cleared, fully available)
Safety documentation
No public safety documentation released for GPT-5.6 as of current date. Safety evaluations are underway as part of the government review process. Full documentation expected at general availability launch.
Related governance resources
Governance controls
AI Vendor Due Diligence
Assess AI vendors against security, governance, and compliance criteria before procurement and at defined intervals during the vendor relationship.
AI Procurement Risk Assessment
Assess and document the risks of procuring an AI system or service before approval, including technical, legal, privacy, and operational risks.
AI Vendor Concentration Risk Assessment
Assess and manage the risk arising from organizational dependence on a small number of AI vendors or underlying model providers, and maintain a documented supplier redundancy posture to ensure operational continuity if a primary vendor is disrupted, suspends access, or becomes unavailable.
Vendor Governance Change Monitoring
Monitor material changes to AI vendors' governance structures, safety leadership, and organizational policies that may affect the risk profile of deployed systems.
Procurement-Stage AI Governance Conditions
Establish governance preconditions that must be satisfied before AI system procurement is completed, including binding contractual commitments to governance standards, whistleblowing policy requirements, and internal approval workflow triggers that make governance a dependency of procurement rather than a post-hoc addition.
Playbook guides
How do we ensure third-party AI vendors meet our standards?
Extending vendor due diligence to cover model transparency, data handling, bias testing, and contractual liability for AI outputs.
What are our obligations under emerging AI regulations?
Tracking the EU AI Act, U.S. executive orders, SEC guidance, and sector-specific rules to understand what AI compliance actually requires.
Status history
June 27, 2026· green to yellow
US government requested delay of full public launch at time of initial release.