On May 1, 2026, OpenAI proudly announced the debut of its 'Advanced Account Security' (AAS) initiative for ChatGPT. In a strategic collaboration with Yubico, OpenAI is introducing hardware security keys to offer robust account protection for users who are at high risk of being targeted. This feature, while optional, is theoretically accessible to all users and is specifically designed to thwart attacks like phishing. The two devices launched under this partnership, the YubiKey C NFC and YubiKey C Nano, function as physical keys that store a unique cryptographic identifier. This ensures that only the legitimate device holder can gain access to the account. The AAS program is particularly well-suited for individuals and groups at heightened risk, such as political dissidents, journalists, researchers, and corporate users, safeguarding sensitive information like trade secrets. Upon activation, users will be required to use either the hardware key or a recovery key to log in to their accounts. In the event that the hardware key is misplaced and no recovery code has been backed up, OpenAI will be unable to assist in the account recovery process, which could result in the permanent loss of data.