{"slug": "openai-shares-update-on-gpt-5-6-availability-after-holding-back-release", "title": "OpenAI shares update on GPT-5.6 availability after holding back release", "summary": "OpenAI announced that GPT-5.6 models Sol, Terra, and Luna will become available on Thursday, July 9, after a delay due to U.S. government review. The company is expanding preview access globally now, though it remains unclear if the release will be limited to the United States.", "body_md": "OpenAI unveiled GPT-5.6 at the end of June, but the public release was [held back](https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/26/openai-upgrading-chatgpt-and-codex-with-new-gpt-5-6-models-in-limited-release/) while the U.S. government reviewed the new AI models. Now the company has shared an update on when customers will be able to use the upgraded model: this week.\n\n## GPT-5.6 is coming on Thursday\n\nTo recap, OpenAI announced three versions of GPT-5.6:\n\n- Sol, OpenAI’s flagship model\n- Terra, their balanced model for everyday work\n- Luna, their fast and affordable model\n\nThe Sol, Terra, and Luna naming scheme is also new with GPT-5.6.\n\n“In this new naming system introduced with GPT‑5.6, the number identifies a model’s generation, while Sol, Terra, and Luna identify durable capability tiers that can advance on their own cadence,” OpenAI [said in June](https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/26/openai-upgrading-chatgpt-and-codex-with-new-gpt-5-6-models-in-limited-release/). “Together, the family gives people and developers clearer choices across intelligence, speed, and cost.”\n\nOpenAI also said it would only share access to GPT-5.6 models with a small group of trusted partners at the U.S. government’s request. This marked a shift from OpenAI’s previous announcement and release behavior.\n\nNow OpenAI has confirmed that GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna will become available Thursday, July 9. OpenAI also said it was “expanding preview access globally now” in a social media post on Tuesday night.\n\nIt’s unclear if tomorrow’s GPT-5.6 release will be limited to users in the United States or globally available. OpenAI’s Sam Altman [said last month](https://x.com/sama/status/2070608613169848514?s=20) that the company was working toward a global release.\n\n*Do more with your Apple products*\n\n[Apple AirTag 2 | Add Find My tracking to keys, bags, bikes, more](https://amzn.to/4vjNWN1)\n\n[AirPods 4 | Apple’s newest wireless headphones](https://amzn.to/43ndewV)\n\n[AirPods Pro 3 | Apple’s best wireless headphones](https://amzn.to/4ut3FYp)\n\n[Beats USB-A to USB-C Cable | The official CarPlay cable](https://amzn.to/4mpKs7K)\n\n*FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.* [More.](https://9to5mac.com/about/#affiliate)\n\n[our homepage](http://9to5mac.com/)for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on\n\n[exclusive stories](https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/),\n\n[reviews](https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/),\n\n[how-tos](https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/), and\n\n[subscribe to our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-shares-update-on-gpt-5-6-availability-after-holding-back-release", "canonical_source": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/08/openai-shares-update-on-gpt-5-6-availability-after-holding-back-release/", "published_at": "2026-07-08 14:15:57+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-08 14:48:33.485516+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "large-language-models", "ai-products", "ai-policy"], "entities": ["OpenAI", "GPT-5.6", "Sam Altman"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-shares-update-on-gpt-5-6-availability-after-holding-back-release", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-shares-update-on-gpt-5-6-availability-after-holding-back-release.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-shares-update-on-gpt-5-6-availability-after-holding-back-release.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-shares-update-on-gpt-5-6-availability-after-holding-back-release.jsonld"}}