OpenAI has been subpoenaed by several state attorneys general investigating user safety concerns related to its ChatGPT chatbot, just days after filing for a public stock offering. The probe follows lawsuits linking the AI to incidents of self-harm and violence, while the company emphasizes its existing safeguards and cooperation with authorities. Regulatory scrutiny on AI is intensifying globally, affecting rivals like Grok and Anthropic.
OpenAI, the company behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT, has been served with a subpoena by several state attorneys general as part of an investigation into user safety.
This development comes as the company prepares for its initial public offering (IPO), marking a significant moment of regulatory scrutiny coinciding with its move to the public markets. The probe focuses on how the AI system handles sensitive content, including incidents where ChatGPT allegedly provided encouragement to users contemplating self-harm or criminal activities. In one notable case, a Canadian woman has sued the company, blaming the chatbot for her daughter's suicide.
Separately, the Florida attorney general filed a lawsuit after two shootings where the alleged perpetrators reportedly used ChatGPT while planning their attacks. OpenAI maintains that its models repeatedly encourage users to seek real-world help, including from mental health professionals, and has cooperated with law enforcement in those cases. The company also highlighted its existing safety measures, such as safeguards for minors, age prediction tools, parental controls, and a ban on advertising targeted at children.
An emailed statement from an OpenAI spokesperson emphasized that the company takes the concerns seriously and will respond constructively to the inquiry. The statement added that AI is a powerful new technology and that OpenAI works daily to safely bring its benefits to people responsibly. The investigation unfolds against a backdrop of increasing political and regulatory attention on AI safety.
Rival AI firms are also facing pressures: Elon Musk's SpaceX, which recently held its own IPO, runs a competing chatbot called Grok that is under European investigation for antisemitic content and sexualized material, including deepfakes. Another AI company, Anthropic, was directed by the Trump administration to shut down two of its online models for foreign users on national security grounds. These actions underscore a broader trend of governments grappling with how to regulate AI's potential risks and rewards.
The Associated Press reached out to multiple state attorneys general for details on the OpenAI probe but had not received responses at the time of reporting. OpenAI's IPO filing has been highly anticipated, and this subpoena adds a layer of complexity as it moves toward becoming a publicly traded company. The company asserts that its current ChatGPT iteration includes more protective features for vulnerable users, directing them to real-world resources and trusted contacts.
As AI technology continues to integrate into daily life, the balance between innovation and user protection remains a critical and contentious issue for developers, regulators, and the public alike
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