OpenAI Opens GPT-5.5 Access to Japanese Banks for Cyber Defense, Finance Minister Says

Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Friday, May 29, 2026, that some undisclosed Japanese financial institutions have been granted access to OpenAI's latest GPT-5.5 model to strengthen defenses against cyberattacks. The announcement followed a meeting in Tokyo with a senior OpenAI official. Katayama did not name the institutions involved but emphasized the government's push to leverage advanced AI in safeguarding the financial sector. Japanese regulators have increasingly prioritized cybersecurity amid a rise in digital threats targeting banks and payment systems. The move underscores deepening collaboration between global AI developers and Japan's financial industry, though terms of the access—including duration and cost—were not disclosed. OpenAI has not publicly commented on the arrangement.