OpenAI Launches GPT-5.6-Cyber with Reduced Safeguards for Exploit Development

OpenAI has released GPT-5.6-Cyber, a cybersecurity-focused AI model designed to assist vulnerability research and exploit development, while reducing refusals for high-risk tasks. The model, accessible through the Daybreak Red tier, significantly outperforms previous versions in identifying vulnerabilities and chaining them together, though it sometimes produces less detailed vulnerability reports. It has been used to discover over 400 vulnerabilities across various systems, including mobile operating systems and databases, and has been made available to a group of trusted partners to proactively identify and patch security flaws. OpenAI acknowledges the risks associated with less-restricted AI models but argues that democratizing access to advanced cybersecurity intelligence is vital for bolstering defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.