OpenAI has released Sol, its latest powerful LLM, to the public. The model is considered at least as capable as Anthropic’s Fable, which was briefly banned due to White House concerns. The big question nobody seems to be able to answer is: how did these models get the green light? Experts, including researchers and even OpenAI employees, admit the licensing process is a black box. With no clear regulations, no designated agency, and industry insiders setting policy, the system currently relies on ad hoc conversations and voluntary safety evaluations. An executive order promises a roadmap by August, but specifics remain vague, with officials stating there will be no AI equivalent of the FDA. Why it matters: This regulatory vacuum means the public relies on the goodwill and internal testing of frontier labs, raising serious questions about democratic oversight and accountability in AI development.