OpenAI Subpoenaed by 42 US State AGs: Business Practices Probe

A coalition of 42 US state attorneys general has issued a subpoena to OpenAI. They are seeking documents related to the company's business practices and impact on users. The subpoena covers a wide range of activities, including advertising, user engagement, data handling, and policies regarding minors and seniors. OpenAI states they take these concerns seriously and plan to engage constructively. This legal action follows a lawsuit filed earlier this month by Florida against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. That suit alleges OpenAI released an unsafe product and ignored warnings about potential harm to users. Florida's attorney general also launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI, concerning the role its chatbot allegedly played in a mass shooting. The coalition of attorneys general has also sent a letter to other AI companies, including Meta, Anthropic, Google, and xAI, demanding safeguards to protect vulnerable users. This matters because it highlights growing legal and ethical scrutiny of artificial intelligence technology.