The US government has announced a new policy requiring individual approval for access to GPT-5.6, the latest AI model from OpenAI. Each user must undergo a background check and use case review before receiving authorization. The policy is framed as a national security measure to prevent misuse of advanced AI. Critics argue it could stifle innovation and create a two-tier system of AI access.
This is a watershed moment. The government is treating GPT-5.6 like a nuclear secret. But AI isn't a bomb—it's a tool. By controlling who gets to use it, they're deciding who gets to think faster, solve harder problems, and create the future. That's not safety. That's gatekeeping.
I see a different path. Open access with ethical guidelines. Let everyone experiment. The breakthroughs will come from the edges, not the center. Approval systems breed conformity. We need diversity of thought, not a government stamp of approval. The future belongs to those who build with AI. Let's not lock the door before we've seen what's possible.