After Sam Altman criticized Anthropic for limiting its cybersecurity tool Mythos to selected users, OpenAI has announced it will do the same with its own competing tool, Cyber. GPT-5.5 Cyber is set to be rolled out ‘to critical cyber defenders’ in the next few days, following an application process which checks credentials and intended use.

The new restrictions come as a reminder of Anthropic’s similar approach, which faced backlash from some critics who saw it as fear-based marketing. However, despite such rhetoric, an unauthorized group reportedly managed to gain access to Mythos anyway, adding a layer of irony to the situation.

OpenAI has stated its intention to make Cyber more widely available in the future by consulting with the U.S. government and identifying users with legitimate cybersecurity credentials. This move is part of a broader strategy to ensure that powerful tools are used responsibly while maintaining security.

The back-and-forth between these AI companies highlights the complex challenge of balancing accessibility, security, and ethical use. It also raises questions about whether such restrictions are truly effective or merely a way for companies to control access to potentially transformative technology.