U.S. Department of Commerce

OpenAI will launch GPT-5.6 on Thursday after delaying it due to US government concerns about AI misuse. The US Department of Commerce approved the release following testing under a new oversight framework, while Anthropic recently had its AI models restricted and later allowed. OpenAI also plans to release the Sol, Terra, and Luna models.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has approved OpenAI's broad launch of the GPT-5.6 model after testing and negotiations. The Trump administration previously required a staggered release limited to government-approved entities, but OpenAI now expects a wide release this week.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has removed export controls on Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models. This decision allows these AI models to be exported without prior restrictions.

April McClain Delaney, a Biden administration appointee, defeated former Rep. David Trone in a costly Maryland House primary. Both candidates spent millions of their personal funds, with Delaney receiving endorsements from Democratic leaders and Trone criticizing her vote on the Laken Riley Act.

The U.S. and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on deep-sea mineral resource development, bypassing the International Seabed Authority (ISA) which governs the deep seabed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The U.S., not a UNCLOS signatory, relies on its 1980 Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, while Japan reaffirmed its commitment to the ISA process. The agreement raises questions about UNCLOS's viability as countries seek to exploit deep-sea resources.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei highlighted AI risks in a blog post, urging mandatory third-party testing for cybersecurity, biological weapons, and AI control. The U.S. Department of Commerce later suspended foreign access to Anthropic's Mythos and Fable 5 models, citing concerns about potential jailbreaking. Critics, including former Trump AI advisor Dean Ball, questioned the inconsistency of the policy compared to relaxed chip export controls to China.

The American AI Exports Program, designed to promote U.S. AI technology abroad and counter Chinese influence, faces criticism for its current design. The program risks failing to attract foreign governments and may only claim credit for deals U.S. firms would have secured independently. The Call for Proposals lacks clear guidance on target markets and strategic priorities, potentially undermining its effectiveness.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is investing $2 billion into quantum chip foundries and startups to address the emerging threat that quantum computing poses to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency security. This significant investment reflects government concerns about 'Q-Day,' when quantum computers could potentially break current cryptographic systems that secure digital assets.

CNBC host Jim Cramer criticized the latest inflation report, which showed a 0.7% increase in the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index from February to March, signaling economic challenges. The PCE index, a key U.S. inflation metric, reflects rising consumer goods and services prices.

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden are scrutinizing Tether and Commerce Secretary H. David Lutnick over a reported loan to a trust linked to Lutnick's children. The inquiry highlights concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving Lutnick's family and his role overseeing the cryptocurrency industry.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioned Commerce Secretary Harvey Lutnick about a $500,000 loan from cryptocurrency company Tether to her family, which is under investigation for potential conflicts of interest. The loan, reportedly made in 2013, has raised concerns about ethical violations and misuse of influence.

GOP leaders contacted Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, after a crypto super PAC linked to his former firm planned to run ads in a competitive Texas congressional race, raising concerns among party officials.

Key deadlines in President Trump's executive order to regulate state AI laws were missed, with agencies like the FTC, Commerce Department, and FCC failing to deliver required actions. The delays raise questions about the administration's ability to enforce federal oversight of AI regulation, as agencies struggle to finalize guidance, evaluate state laws, and establish transparency standards.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that only one person has been approved for President Trump’s $1 million 'Gold Card' visa program, which offers an expedited pathway to U.S. citizenship, despite hundreds being in the application queue.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) lacks access to Anthropic's powerful Mythos Preview AI model, which is being used by other government agencies like the NSA and Commerce Department to identify security vulnerabilities. This exclusion raises concerns as CISA faces budget cuts and workforce reductions under the Trump administration, limiting its capacity to address AI-driven cyber threats.

The Trump administration has launched a portal for businesses to apply for refunds on tariffs imposed under his trade policies. This initiative aims to reimburse companies that paid additional tariffs on imported goods.

Cadence Design Systems has agreed to plead guilty and pay over $140 million for unlawfully exporting semiconductor design tools to a PRC military university under the Central Military Commission. The university was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Entity List in 2015 due to its involvement in producing supercomputers for nuclear explosive simulation and military activities in China.

Flighttime Enterprises Inc., an Ohio-based American subsidiary of a Russian aircraft parts supplier, and three of its employees have been federally charged with illegally exporting aircraft parts and components to Russia and Russian airlines without required U.S. Department of Commerce licenses.