Eight American states sue OpenAI over ChatGPT risks

Attorneys general from eight U.S. states announced Wednesday that they will sue OpenAI, the company that develops ChatGPT, alleging that the platform may be dangerous for users, particularly teenagers. Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia claim that the chatbot could encourage violence and self-harm.

The lawsuits target alleged violations of consumer protection laws and call the product’s safety into question. The attorneys general are seeking measures that would require OpenAI to introduce additional safeguards for users and limit the development of superintelligence models capable of self-improvement in the absence of adequate safeguards.

The move comes after Florida filed a similar lawsuit against OpenAI in June. The company is also facing criticism over potential risks to mental health and security. OpenAI and Anthropic executives, along with experts in the field, have warned that the accelerated development of autonomous systems could create major risks in the near future. The arguments are part of the increasingly heated debate over the pace of artificial intelligence development and the need for stricter rules.