State Attorneys General Launch Probe Into OpenAI
A coalition of state attorneys general has reportedly opened an investigation into OpenAI, with New York’s attorney general issuing a subpoena to the company on Friday. The subpoena demands documents covering a wide array of topics, including advertising practices, user engagement and retention, model sycophancy, consumer and health data handling, and policies regarding minors and seniors. The investigation adds to mounting legal pressures on the AI firm, which recently prevailed in a high-profile trial against co-founder Elon Musk but still faces multiple lawsuits over copyright infringement and allegations linking ChatGPT to a suicide.
OpenAI has confirmed it is cooperating with the probe. A company spokesperson stated, “AI is a new and powerful technology, and we work every day to safely bring its benefits to people in a responsible way. We take the concerns raised by state attorneys general seriously and intend to engage constructively with their offices.” The spokesperson also noted that ChatGPT now includes enhanced protections for minors and individuals in distress, directing them to real-world resources and trusted contacts. However, OpenAI declined to specify which states are involved or share further details about the requested information.
The investigation follows a separate lawsuit filed earlier this month by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who accused OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman of ignoring safety warnings and endangering children. Additionally, Altman recently apologized to the community of Tumbler Ridge, Canada, after a mass shooting, acknowledging that OpenAI failed to alert law enforcement after flagging the suspected shooter’s ChatGPT account. Despite these challenges, OpenAI announced this week that it has confidentially filed to go public.