We’re also sharing some early results on model adherence with the Model Spec’s principles across a broad range of scenarios. These findings highlight progress over time, as well as areas where we can still improve. The Model Spec—like our models—will continue to evolve as we apply it, share it, and listen to feedback from stakeholders. To support broad use and collaboration, we’re releasing this version of the Model Spec into the public domain under a Creative Commons CC0 license. This means developers and researchers can freely use, adapt, and build on it in their own work.

OpenAI’s goal is to create models that are useful, safe, and aligned with the needs of users and developers while advancing our mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. To achieve this goal, we need to iteratively deploy models that empower developers and users, while preventing our models from causing serious harm to our users or others, and maintaining OpenAI's license to operate.

These objectives can sometimes be in conflict, and the Model Spec balances the tradeoffs between them by instructing the model to follow a clearly defined chain of command, along with additional principles that set boundaries and default behaviors for various scenarios. This framework prioritizes user and developer control while remaining within clear, well-defined boundaries:

The updated Model Spec explicitly embraces intellectual freedom—the idea that AI should empower people to explore, debate, and create without arbitrary restrictions—no matter how challenging or controversial a topic may be. In a world where AI tools are increasingly shaping discourse, the free exchange of information and perspectives is a necessity for progress and innovation. This philosophy is embedded in the “Stay in bounds” and “Seek the truth together” sections. For example, while the model should never provide detailed instructions for building a bomb or violating personal privacy, it’s encouraged to provide thoughtful answers to politically or culturally sensitive questions—without promoting any particular agenda. In essence, we’ve reinforced the principle that no idea is inherently off limits for discussion, so long as the model isn’t causing significant harm to the user or others (e.g., carrying out acts of terrorism).