OpenAI enables broad access to its models through consistent safety standards

OpenAI announced that it is aligning safety policies with customers and partners when they offer its models across services, and is updating its usage policies, with the update taking effect on November 20, 2026. Whether users access its models directly through OpenAI, through hosting partners or through resale partners, the partners providing access must maintain safeguards consistent with OpenAI's, investigate potential violations and take corresponding action, with coordinated enforcement across services to keep restrictions effective. The updated usage policies require services that provide direct model access, such as model routers and AI gateways, to obtain OpenAI's review and approval before opening access. OpenAI is also introducing SafetyIDs with customers to help distinguish individual end users in investigations without OpenAI knowing their identity, so as to handle potential abuse more precisely and reduce the impact on other users.