A coalition of US state attorneys general has launched an investigation into OpenAI, adding to the growing regulatory and legal scrutiny facing the artificial intelligence company.
OpenAI was served with a subpoena by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The request seeks documents relating to a wide range of issues, including the company’s advertising practices, user engagement and retention strategies, model behaviour, consumer data management, the handling of health-related information, and protections for children and older users.
Responding to the development, an OpenAI spokesperson said the company is committed to deploying AI responsibly and safely. The spokesperson added that OpenAI takes the concerns raised by state attorneys general seriously and intends to cooperate constructively with the investigation.
The company also highlighted measures it says have been introduced to strengthen protections for younger users and vulnerable individuals. These include age-prediction technology, parental guidance tools, safeguards that direct users in distress towards trusted support services and restrictions on advertising aimed at children.
OpenAI has not disclosed which states are participating in the investigation, nor has it revealed the full scope of the information requested. The New York Attorney General’s office has yet to publicly comment on the matter.
The investigation comes shortly after OpenAI secured a legal victory against co-founder Elon Musk, who alleged that the company had breached its founding principles. Musk’s lead lawyer has indicated that an appeal will be pursued.
Despite that victory, OpenAI continues to face a number of legal challenges, including lawsuits alleging copyright infringement and claims relating to ChatGPT’s alleged involvement in user suicides.
Earlier this month, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and chief executive Sam Altman, accusing the company of disregarding safety warnings and exposing children to potential harm.
Altman also recently apologised to residents of Tumbler Ridge in Canada following a mass shooting, acknowledging that OpenAI failed to alert law enforcement after identifying and banning the suspect’s ChatGPT account.
The latest investigation emerges as OpenAI moves towards a public market debut, having confidentially filed paperwork for an initial public offering (IPO).
