Before coffee… we check what OpenAI’s done this time.
Another headline.
Another big change.
And “surprise” — almost no real details.

No model name.
No start date.
No list of who’s affected.
All they said?
“Coming soon.”

But if you're using the OpenAI API, this one matters. It’s not a cool new feature.
It’s a rule.
And rules come with blocks.

So go check if your access is about to change.

(And yep — it’s not the first time they’ve done this. Just this week we shared the big news about GPT-4.1: details? No! Headline? Yes.)

📍What’s the News?

OpenAI has announced a new requirement: if your organisation wants access to some of its more advanced models through the API, you’ll need to become a Verified Organization.

Translation?
You’ll need to go through a formal identity verification process, using a government-issued ID — and not everyone will qualify.

🗣️ What OpenAI Is Saying

The company says this move is all about improving safety and reducing misuse.
What they are really saying is that they’ve had to deal with policy violations, data exfiltration, and other behind-the-scenes headaches and while they don’t always go public with the details, the message is clear:
They’ve seen enough to change the rules.

From now on, they want more control over who is using their most powerful models, how often, and for what purpose.

🍏 Not the First to Lock the Door
 

Apple and Google have been doing this for years.

If you want to put an app in their stores, you need to validate your identity and go through an approval process. 

Why? 

Because those platforms don’t want harmful or scammy software spreading through their systems.

So no — OpenAI isn’t inventing the rulebook. They’re joining a pattern we already accept: when the tech has wide reach or real impact, you check who’s holding the keys.

The only difference? 

Apple and Google control distribution. OpenAI provides the engine. That means the stakes are different — and the risks are harder to detect until it’s too late.

📦 Bottom Line (Logistics)

Here’s what we know so far:

• You’ll need a government-issued ID from a supported country

• Each ID can verify one organisation every 90 days

• Not all orgs will be eligible

• This applies to specific advanced API models (OpenAI hasn’t confirmed the full list yet)

• Timeline for rollout is expected soon — no fixed date given
  
  

So if you're a builder, startup, or agency using OpenAI’s API, now’s the time to check whether your organisation can meet the new criteria.

🔥 Frozen Light Team Perspective

This move isn’t random — it’s built on experience.

OpenAI is watching patterns we’re not always exposed to. What seems sudden to us may be the result of ongoing misuse, repeated red flags, or even quiet legal risks stacking up.

Yes, at first glance it feels strict. But here’s the reality:
When you give people access to large-scale information analysis, model-powered automation, and high-level outputs — you're handing them something that can do real damage in the wrong hands.

OpenAI is treating their models like powerful infrastructure — and setting up gates, like any responsible platform would.

We’d argue this is fair.

After all, we wouldn’t want bots trained on the same tech fighting each other in the next cybersecurity event without anyone knowing who let them in. 

Would we?