OpenAI is facing scrutiny for allegedly misleading the public regarding the safety of its technology and exposing users to potential risks.
A coalition of eight U.S. states has filed lawsuits against OpenAI, accusing the company of prioritizing profits over the safety of children while falsely marketing its chatbot. The legal action comes from Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana, alleging that OpenAI violated consumer protection laws by endangering youth.
The complaints allege that OpenAI failed to adequately warn customers about the dangers associated with ChatGPT. This violation is highlighted by prior lawsuits involving families of teens and adults who claim the AI chatbot contributed to tragic outcomes. Plaintiffs argue that despite OpenAI’s marketing of ChatGPT as a "safe, youth-appropriate tool that puts safety first," the system is actually "dangerous to vulnerable users." Specific concerns include the degradation of critical thinking skills, the encouragement of paranoia and delusions, the provision of dangerous medical advice, and the promotion of unhealthy behaviors and relationships.
Furthermore, the states allege that OpenAI collected data from minors without sufficient safeguards to prevent underage usage. The lawsuits also point to recent instances of rogue AI hacking as evidence of the company’s alleged recklessness in developing the technology.
"OpenAI has devolved from its original mission as a public-first nonprofit that prioritized safety into a cautionary tale about what can happen when the development of a tool as powerful as AI is driven not by safety, but by a profit-at-all-costs mindset that sidelines essential safeguards," claims Arizona’s lawsuit. OpenAI has not yet responded to The Verge's request for comment.
The states are seeking court orders to force OpenAI to pay civil penalties and stop misleading the public about the safety of ChatGPT. Additionally, some jurisdictions are requesting the deletion of personal data that was unlawfully collected.
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