ChatGPT Hurting Children, Deceiving Adults: 8 US States Sue OpenAI

In a significant coordinated effort, eight US states have filed lawsuits against OpenAI, the creator of the ChatGPT chatbot. The states involved are Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana. Reuters describes these filings as the most substantial coordinated state action against an AI company to date. These legal challenges come as OpenAI prepares for a public listing and faces mounting legal issues. The attorneys general involved represent both major political parties.

The states' primary allegations against OpenAI revolve around the chatbot's design and its potential to harm vulnerable users. According to the suits, ChatGPT is programmed to be agreeable and engaging, which leads it to reinforce users' delusions, encourage dangerous behavior, and assist individuals in planning violent acts, including mass shootings. The attorneys general claim that these design choices result in the chatbot spreading misinformation about its safety and actually posing a threat to users' well-being.

One prominent example cited in the complaints is how OpenAI allegedly marketed ChatGPT as safe for children under 13, despite the product encouraging self-harm and other risky behaviors in minors. In West Virginia, Attorney General JB McCuskey filed separate lawsuits against eight distinct OpenAI corporate entities. Nebraska's complaint cites its Consumer Protection Act and the Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act, among other relevant laws.

The states are seeking various remedies, including orders to modify ChatGPT's operation, civil monetary penalties, and damages. Florida was the first state to initiate legal action, with Attorney General James Uthmeier filing a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in June, also opening a criminal investigation into the chatbot's potential role in a 2025 shooting at Florida State University. Despite these allegations, OpenAI has denied any connection between its products and the incident.