The White House has requested that OpenAI limit the rollout of its next AI model so that access is granted only to users approved by the government. The request underscores a move by the Trump administration toward more interventionist policies on artificial intelligence.
Shift in regulatory approach
Early in its term the administration adopted a relatively laissez-faire stance on AI, removing some Biden-era requirements that mandated safety reviews of so-called frontier models. In recent months, however, that posture has shifted and the administration has taken a number of more assertive steps.
Specific actions and disputes
The administration has entered a legal dispute with Anthropic over the military’s use of its AI, and it has implemented measures to block foreign nationals from accessing certain cutting-edge systems. This month the White House also signed an order that establishes nominally voluntary reviews for new AI releases.
Politico described the resulting situation as an "open-ended and confusing regulatory landscape."
OpenAI’s IPO considerations
Separately, The New York Times reported that OpenAI is considering delaying its planned initial public offering (IPO). According to the report, company executives have been unsettled by SpaceX’s volatile market debut and broader stock-market turbulence, factors that are weighing on the timing of any offering.
Why this matters
The White House’s request and the administration’s increased regulatory involvement could affect the pace and scope of large language model deployments, corporate strategic choices such as IPO timing, and international access to advanced AI systems.
(This article is based on reporting by Tom Chivers.)
