{
  "id": 11039820,
  "title": "AI safety fears put OpenAI and Anthropic in the FTC's crosshairs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/ai-safety-fears-put-openai-and-anthropic-in-the-ftcs-crosshairs",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-30T21:31:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Axios",
    "slug": "axios",
    "url": "https://www.axios.com/2026/09/30/ftc-openai-anthropic-ai-safety-investigation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is probing OpenAI, Anthropic, and other artificial intelligence firms over possible safety hazards linked to their products, an FTC official revealed to Axios on Wednesday. This probe signifies a possible change in government oversight of AI industry, which has generally adopted a laissez-faire approach. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson is preparing civil investigative demands that would require AI executives to provide documents and testify regarding the safety of their models, according to the New York Post, which initially reported the news. The investigation has been ongoing for weeks, preceding OpenAI's announcement that it would suspend the release of its latest model, GPT-6.1 Astra, due to subpar safety testing results. OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude did not respond to Axios' request for comment.\n\nThe push by prominent AI executives for enhanced safeguards around their technology has prompted some AI skeptics to cast doubt on their intentions. FTC Chair Ferguson has suggested that AI firms are attempting to instill fear in Americans to pressure policymakers into creating a regulatory structure that would enable AI leaders to thwart smaller competitors from gaining ground. Florida's attorney general has requested a court injunction against OpenAI, claiming inadequate safety measures. A public interest legal group also filed a lawsuit against OpenAI over the Hugging Face breach, alleging that the company knowingly engaged in unfair business practices that pose significant harm to the public.",
  "summary": "The Federal Trade Commission is investigating OpenAI, Anthropic and other AI companies over potential safety risks posed by their products, an agency spokesperson told Axios Wednesday. Why it matters: The federal government has largely taken a hands-off approach to regulating AI , but the FTC investigation could signal a shift for the industry. Driving the news: FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson is…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Semafor",
        "title": "FTC probes OpenAI, Anthropic, and METR",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/ftc-probes-openai-anthropic-and-metr",
        "published": "2026-09-30T18:51:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}