Access to future AI models in OpenAI’s API may require a verified ID

OpenAI may soon require organizations to complete an ID verification process in order to access certain future AI models, according to a support page published to the company’s website last week.

The verification process, called Verified Organization, is “a new way for developers to unlock access to the most advanced models and capabilities on the OpenAI platform,” reads the page. Verification requires a government-issued ID from one of the countries supported by OpenAI’s API. An ID can only verify one organization every 90 days, and not all organizations will be eligible for verification, says OpenAI.

“At OpenAI, we take our responsibility seriously to ensure that AI is both broadly accessible and used safely,” reads the page. “Unfortunately, a small minority of developers intentionally use the OpenAI APIs in violation of our usage policies. We’re adding the verification process to mitigate unsafe use of AI while continuing to make advanced models available to the broader developer community.”

OpenAI released a new Verified Organization status as a new way for developers to unlock access to the most advanced models and capabilities on the platform, and to be ready for the “next exciting model release”

– Verification takes a few minutes and requires a valid… pic.twitter.com/zWZs1Oj8vE

— Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) April 12, 2025

The new verification process could be intended to beef up security around OpenAI’s products as they become more sophisticated and capable. The company has published several reports on its efforts to detect and mitigate malicious use of its models, including by groups allegedly based in North Korea.

It may also be aimed at preventing IP theft. According to a report from Bloomberg earlier this year, OpenAI was investigating whether a group linked with DeepSeek, the China-based AI lab, exfiltrated large amounts of data through its API in late 2024, possibly for training models — a violation of OpenAI’s terms.

OpenAI blocked access to its services in China last summer.