AI Breakthroughs and Tech Moves

The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now.

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OpenAI is limiting the release of its newest AI models to a “small group of trusted partners” at the behest of the U.S. government, the company said Friday.

The next generation GPT-5.6 lineup includes Sol, its flagship model; Terra, a more balanced model for everyday use; and Luna, a faster, lower-cost option. Although Sol is the company’s most powerful model, the Trump administration has restricted the release of all three. OpenAI said the preview is limited to partners “whose participation has been shared with the government.”

The administration’s request comes as the U.S. government puts new pressure on AI companies to restrict their most advanced systems. After Anthropic released its most powerful public model Fable 5, the administration ordered the company to remove access for any foreign national, prompting Anthropic to take the model down entirely.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has introduced MicroVMs, a new service that allows users to create isolated sandboxes with full lifecycle control.

These virtual machines are designed for developers who need an environment where they can run code without interfering with other workloads or resources.

With MicroVMs, AWS aims to provide a more flexible and secure way to develop and test applications in the cloud.

The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now.

Founder Summit ticket savings of up to $190 end June 26. Join 1,000+ founders and VCs for all-day bootcamp. REGISTER NOW.

Nvidia has dominated the AI chip market for years, but the era of total dependence might be ending.

OpenAI just shared its plans to spice things up with Jalapeño, its custom inference chip built with Broadcom , joining Google, Apple, and SpaceX in a growing list of companies building their way out of single-supplier risk. The goal is less of a clean break and more of a hedge. Custom silicon means more control, hardware tuned to specific needs, and the kind of performance gains Apple unlocked when it ditched Intel.

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane dig into what the custom chip trend means for the industry and a few deals of the week worth watching.

'Patronus AI' has raised $50 million in funding to expand its capabilities and provide more comprehensive digital world stress-testing services.

The company's technology is designed to help organizations identify vulnerabilities and ensure the resilience of their digital assets.

The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now.

Founder Summit ticket savings of up to $190 end June 26. Join 1,000+ founders and VCs for all-day bootcamp. REGISTER NOW.

OpenAI is limiting the release of its newest AI models to a “small group of trusted partners” at the behest of the U.S. government, the company said Friday.

The next generation GPT-5.6 lineup includes Sol, its flagship model; Terra, a more balanced model for everyday use; and Luna, a faster, lower-cost option. Although Sol is the company’s most powerful model, the Trump administration has restricted the release of all three. OpenAI said the preview is limited to partners “whose participation has been shared with the government.”

The administration’s request comes as the U.S. government puts new pressure on AI companies to restrict their most advanced systems. After Anthropic released its most powerful public model Fable 5, the administration ordered the company to remove access for any foreign national, prompting Anthropic to take the model down entirely.