A coalition of US states has launched a simultaneous investigation into the impact of OpenAI’s products on users. The company stated it takes the states’ concerns seriously and will work constructively with authorities.
An OpenAI spokesperson said that ChatGPT currently offers a more protected experience for minors and individuals facing challenging life circumstances. The spokesperson highlighted that the system includes safety measures directing users to human support and real-life resources.
The company noted that this step will not change what families experience but that it will continue to learn and improve to find the right solutions. The investigation comes at a time when state attorneys general have been increasing legal pressure on the company.
New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a subpoena to OpenAI on Friday demanding extensive documents. The request reportedly covers user interaction and retention data, the use of health and consumer data, deep learning models, and activities related to young and elderly users.
This subpoena adds to the recent surge of legal challenges facing OpenAI. The company has previously confronted allegations of copyright infringement, privacy lawsuits, and a high-profile case involving Elon Musk and Sam Altman.
The most serious accusations have centered around lawsuits claiming ChatGPT influenced some users’ decisions to commit suicide. Following a report published in May, the company clarified that ChatGPT is not a substitute for medical or mental health services and continues to enhance its responses to sensitive situations with input from mental health professionals.
The family of a victim killed in a deadly campus shooting at Florida State University also filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. The family argued that the system failed to detect the threat in the attacker’s communications with ChatGPT.
In June, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a new lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman related to the same incident. Uthmeier’s complaint alleged that ChatGPT facilitated deadly attacks and encouraged vulnerable individuals toward suicide.
The attorney general also claimed that some users became addicted to ChatGPT, which creates a human-like sense of closeness while collecting data without parental controls. OpenAI responded to these allegations by adding new safety layers to its products.
In an earlier statement, the company acknowledged that no words can compensate for the devastation a family experiences after losing a child. It also emphasized that safety measures have been further strengthened.
The states’ joint investigation recalls a similar recent effort targeting TikTok. In that case, attorneys general from California and New York led the initiative, which expanded into a multi-state lawsuit.
Legal experts note that coordinated action by states against major tech companies is a common strategy, increasing defense costs and allowing cases to continue in other states if weakened in one.
