# Preparedness Framework: Meaning and Why It Matters

> The Preparedness Framework is OpenAI's published process for tracking, evaluating and guarding against severe risks from its frontier SI models.

Source: https://enterrsi.si/encyclopedia/preparedness-framework/
Updated: 2026-11-08

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RSI Encyclopedia · Term

# Preparedness Framework

The Preparedness Framework is OpenAI's published process for tracking, evaluating and guarding against severe risks from its frontier SI models.

Category
:   Term

Also called
:   OpenAI Preparedness Framework

Rogue Log cases
:   0

Laws that use it
:   0

## In plain English

OpenAI introduced the Preparedness Framework in December 2023 and published version 2 on April 15, 2025. It sets High and Critical capability thresholds for biological, cyber and self-improvement risks, with safeguards that must be in place before a model at those levels can be deployed or developed further. A Safety Advisory Group reviews results and makes recommendations to leadership.

In 2026 the framework reached a milestone: OpenAI rated GPT-6 Astra its first model at the Critical level of cybersecurity capability. The Containment Board notes its weaknesses: the thresholds are partly qualitative, a marginal risk clause allows adjusted safeguards if a rival ships a comparable model without them, and the Future of Life Institute notes that leadership can override the Safety Advisory Group. OpenAI has also published a broader Frontier Governance Framework, dated May 2026, covering EU and California compliance.

## Why it matters for rogue SI

Preparedness frameworks are where a lab writes down when it would stop. Whether those stopping points hold under commercial pressure is the question the Containment Board grades.

## Lab policies

- [**Preparedness Framework**](https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/18a02b5d-6b67-4cec-ab64-68cdfbddebcd/preparedness-framework-v2.pdf) OpenAI · version 2
- [**Frontier Governance Framework**](https://openai.com/index/openai-frontier-governance-framework) OpenAI · version May 2026

The term

Term
:   Preparedness Framework

Also called
:   OpenAI Preparedness Framework

Category
:   Term

Related terms
:   3

Related terms

[Responsible Scaling Policy (RSP) **Term**](https://enterrsi.si/encyclopedia/responsible-scaling-policy/)[Frontier safety framework **Term**](https://enterrsi.si/encyclopedia/frontier-safety-framework/)[Capability threshold **Term**](https://enterrsi.si/encyclopedia/capability-threshold/)

Cite this entry

"Preparedness Framework." The RSI Encyclopedia, enterrsi.si, November 8, 2026. https://enterrsi.si/encyclopedia/preparedness-framework/

Free to cite under CC BY 4.0 with a link to enterrsi.si.

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