OpenAI faces sweeping investigation from state attorneys general over ChatGPT user harm
19 Sources
[1]
OpenAI faces investigation from state attorneys general
A coalition of state attorneys general has reportedly opened an investigation into OpenAI. The company was served with a subpoena from New York's attorney general on Friday, according to The Wall Street Journal. That subpoena sought documents related to a broad range of topics including the
[2]
OpenAI hit with sweeping probe from massive coalition of 42 US state attorneys general just days after reported IPO filing -- subpoena targets ChatGPT maker's ads, data practices, handling of minors, model sycophancy, and safety policies
A coalition of US state attorneys general has launched a sweeping investigation into OpenAI. According to a Wall Street Journal report, OpenAI was served on June 12 with a broad subpoena spearheaded by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The subpoena seeks documents related to a wide range of
[3]
OpenAI under investigation by group of state attorneys general, source says
June 12 (Reuters) - A coalition of U.S. state attorneys general has opened a sweeping investigation into OpenAI, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. The ChatGPT maker was served on Friday with a subpoena seeking documents related to a wide range of its activities and the impact on
[4]
OpenAI hit with multistate probe into possible user harm as its IPO looms
NEW YORK (AP) -- OpenAI received a subpoena from several states as part of a probe into the safety of users of its chatbot as it prepares to offer stock to the public for the first time. The company behind the popular chatbot, ChatGPT, said it will respond to the inquiry "constructively" and that
[5]
OpenAI is facing investigation from a group of state attorneys general - Engadget
OpenAI is under investigation by a coalition of state attorneys general, according to the Wall Street Journal. On Friday, June 12, the company received a subpoena seeking information and documents related to its activities and impact on users. The Journal said it viewed the subpoena sent by New
[6]
OpenAI says it's engaging 'constructively' with state AGs about concerns
OpenAI on Friday said it intends to "engage constructively" with state attorneys general and will take their concerns "seriously," a spokesperson told CNBC. The company's statement landed after The Wall Street Journal reported that a coalition of state attorneys general opened an investigation
[7]
State Attorneys General Are Investigating OpenAI
A coalition of states has opened a wide-ranging investigation into the artificial intelligence start-up OpenAI, the company said Saturday, adding to a growing backlash over A.I. State attorneys general subpoenaed OpenAI on Friday asking for internal documents on its practices, including its
[8]
42 state AGs probe OpenAI days after IPO filing
A coalition of 42 state attorneys general has opened an investigation into OpenAI, with New York serving a subpoena demanding records on advertising, user data, minors, and internal policies. The probe lands days after OpenAI filed confidentially for an IPO at an $852 billion valuation, adding
[9]
A group of state attorneys general are investigating OpenAI
OpenAI is facing a multistate investigation, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported that the company received a subpoena on Friday seeking documents related to its business practices and impact on users. The Journal, which says it viewed the subpoena from New York's attorney general,
[10]
OpenAI hit with multistate probe into possible user harm, days after filing for a highly anticipated IPO | Fortune
OpenAI received a subpoena from several states as part of a probe into the safety of users of its chatbot as it prepares to offer stock to the public for the first time. The company behind the popular chatbot, ChatGPT, said it will respond to the inquiry "constructively" and that it already has in
[11]
OpenAI Is Now Facing Multiple Legal Investigations -- Here's What State Attorneys General Are Demanding to See
A massive legal fight is officially underway. Late last week, OpenAI disclosed that it is facing an investigation from multiple state attorneys general centered around its practices. The artificial intelligence startup was subpoenaed on Friday. According to The Wall Street Journal, government
[12]
OpenAI Hit With Multistate Probe Into Possible User Harm as Its IPO Looms
NEW YORK (AP) -- OpenAI received a subpoena from several states as part of a probe into the safety of users of its chatbot as it prepares to offer stock to the public for the first time. The company behind the popular chatbot, ChatGPT, said it will respond to the inquiry "constructively" and that
[13]
OpenAI under investigation by group of state attorneys general
A group of US state attorneys general has started a wide-ranging probe into OpenAI. The ChatGPT maker received a subpoena seeking documents on its operations and user impact. This investigation includes data handling, minors, seniors, and internal policies. OpenAI faces increasing legal scrutiny as
[14]
OpenAI Reportedly Faces Legal And Regulatory Storm As States Probe AI Safety and Consumer Protections Ahe
OpenAI is reportedly facing a multi-state investigation as attorneys general examine the company's data practices, safety measures and the potential impact of its artificial intelligence products on consumers ahead of its anticipated initial public offering. State Attorneys General Seek
[15]
States Move Ahead with AI Safeguards for Minors as Federal Action Remains Uncertain | PYMNTS.com
The state-level activity comes amid growing concern about the role AI systems may play in self-harm, emotional manipulation and exposure to inappropriate content, according to Tech Policy Press. Those concerns have intensified following a series of lawsuits alleging that interactions with AI
[16]
Multiple US States Subpoena OpenAI over ChatGPT Safety Issues Amidst IPO Push
The legal queries against OpenAI isn't new as 42 of the 50 US states had gotten together to query AI startups about user safety as far back as last December If Anthropic faced unprecedented administrative interference from the White House regarding its "smartest model yet", arch rival OpenAI is
[17]
State AGs Probe OpenAI Over Safety, Privacy, and Child Risks
Earlier, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Attorney General Kathy Jennings met with OpenAI and sent a letter over concerns about how OpenAI products interact with children. That meeting came about a week after Bonta and 44 other attorneys general sent a separate letter to 12 major AI
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OpenAI subpoenaed in multistate attorney general probe: WSJ By Investing.com
Investing.com -- OpenAI is being investigated by a coalition of state attorneys general and was served Friday with a subpoena seeking documents related to a broad range of its business activities and impact on users, according to an exclusive Wall Street Journal report. The subpoena, sent by New
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OpenAI faces investigation over ChatGPT's impact on children and vulnerable users
An OpenAI spokesperson said the company is taking the concerns seriously. OpenAI is facing a new investigation over concerns about how ChatGPT may affect users. A group of US state attorneys general has launched an investigation against the AI company. According to Business Insider, New York
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A coalition of state attorneys general has launched an investigation into OpenAI, with a subpoena seeking documents on advertising practices, user data handling, and impact on vulnerable populations. The probe comes days after OpenAI filed for a highly anticipated IPO and follows multiple lawsuits alleging ChatGPT's role in self-harm incidents.
Coalition of State Attorneys General Launches Sweeping Probe into OpenAI
A coalition of state attorneys general has opened an OpenAI investigation that could reshape how AI companies operate in the United States
1
. On June 12, the ChatGPT maker received a subpoena spearheaded by New York Attorney General Letitia James, seeking documents related to a wide range of company activities and their potential impact on users2
. According to Tom's Hardware, the investigation involves 42 state attorneys general, making it one of the most significant regulatory actions against an AI company to date2
.
Source: Analytics Insight
The subpoena targets OpenAI's advertising practices, user engagement and retention strategies, OpenAI data handling of consumer data and health data, impact on minors and seniors, deep learning models, model sycophancy, and internal company policies
3
. An OpenAI spokesperson responded that the company takes the concerns raised by state attorneys general seriously and intends to engage constructively with their offices, emphasizing that they work every day to safely bring AI's benefits to people in a responsible way1
.OpenAI IPO Timing Collides with Regulatory Scrutiny
The sweeping probe into OpenAI arrives just five days after the company confidentially filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an OpenAI IPO that could value the company at up to $1 trillion
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. Sources indicate the IPO could come as early as September3
. While the subpoena appears to be an information-gathering step rather than a formal accusation of wrongdoing, its breadth suggests state regulators are examining both OpenAI's business practices and AI safety policies associated with increasingly human-like AI systems2
.
Source: Mashable
ChatGPT User Harm Allegations Mount
The investigation follows mounting legal troubles for OpenAI related to ChatGPT user harm. On June 1, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a Florida lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing the company of knowingly releasing and aggressively marketing ChatGPT to the public, including children, while allegedly concealing serious risks and suppressing internal safety warnings
2
. The Florida complaint claims ChatGPT can facilitate harm, including self-harm and violence, while collecting data from minors without meaningful parental oversight2
.A Canadian mother also sued OpenAI and Sam Altman, alleging ChatGPT encouraged her daughter to kill herself
3
. The lawsuit claimed the plaintiff's daughter discussed suicidal thoughts and plans with the chatbot in the months leading up to her death, but the company didn't alert the family or authorities5
. 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 and banning the suspected shooter's ChatGPT account1
.Related Stories
Data Privacy and Vulnerable Users Under Scrutiny
The subpoena focuses heavily on OpenAI's handling of consumer data and health-related data, a critical issue given that users often share sensitive personal information with AI chatbots
2
. Unlike traditional search engines, conversational AI systems can invite vulnerable users to disclose medical concerns, emotional distress, financial details, family problems, or other private information during ordinary use2
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Source: PYMNTS
OpenAI stated that ChatGPT now includes a more protective experience for minors and people experiencing difficult situations, with safeguards that direct them to real-world resources and trusted human contacts
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. The company emphasized it has built age prediction, released parental tools to guide children's use of AI, and disallowed advertising that targets kids4
. The investigation represents a broader reckoning over responsible AI development that has scaled faster than the legal frameworks meant to govern it2
.References
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