OpenAI Courts Japan with Cyber Defense Tools as AI Nationalism Debate Heats Up

OpenAI showcased its GPT-5.5 Cyber AI model to Japanese officials this week, signaling a strategic push into Asia's second-largest economy. Former U.S. Cyber Command chief Paul Nakasone, now an OpenAI board member, confirmed ongoing talks about deploying the system across 15 critical infrastructure sectors. The company plans tiered access—government agencies get the full suite, while businesses undergo vetting for a trimmed-down version with Trusted Access for Cyber (TAC) protocols.

Cybersecurity took center stage during demonstrations, with OpenAI's Sasha Baker warning of 'ecosystem warfare' against threats like Anthropic's Mythos AI. This shadowy rival allegedly exploits software vulnerabilities autonomously, raising stakes for defensive systems. Nakasone emphasized governance: 'We're building safeguards that scale from finance to supply chains,' hinting at future expansions.