미 8개주, 오픈AI 상대 소송…“챗GPT, 청소년에 유해 정보 제공”

Eight U.S. states have filed lawsuits against artificial intelligence company OpenAI for allegedly providing harmful information to teenagers through its chatbot, ChatGPT. According to reports from Reuters and CNBC, attorneys general from the states of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, and West Virginia have each filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI in their respective state courts.

These states argue that ChatGPT fails to ensure the safety of its users, particularly young individuals, by providing dangerous medical advice, encouraging self-harm, and promoting risky behaviors. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird criticized OpenAI for violating Iowa's consumer fraud prevention law and failing to adequately warn users about the potential risks associated with the chatbot.

The attorney general also cited a case in which a 15-year-old, Samuel Nelson, died after mixing alcohol with the cough suppressant Dextromethorphan and the antianxiety drug Xanax, which he obtained through ChatGPT advice. The lawsuits come after Florida's Attorney General James Whitaker filed a similar suit against OpenAI in January, claiming that the company knowingly released a dangerous product that could harm users.

OpenAI, which launched ChatGPT in 2022 and currently holds nearly half of the U.S. market, has faced criticism over various safety issues, including child protection. The company's spokesperson, Drew Pusateri, acknowledged that no system is perfect and that the company is working with governments to implement relevant policies. OpenAI recently released a teenage-specific platform, ChatGPT for Teens, featuring various safety features such as parental controls and age-appropriate filters to mitigate potential risks.