The two best-known AI chatbot makers are now facing pressure from Washington and from the states at the same time.
On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission sent civil investigative demands to OpenAI and Anthropic, Axios reported. The same day, eight states filed separate lawsuits accusing OpenAI of misleading the public about how safe ChatGPT is, especially for kids.
What the FTC Wants
A civil investigative demand works like a subpoena: it forces a company to hand over documents before the government decides whether to sue. Each demand runs more than 50 pages, according to Axios, and asks for:
- Records of security incidents and how the companies safeguard their systems
- Marketing materials
- Documents on their privacy policies
The probe focuses on possible consumer protection violations, a source told Axios. That gives the FTC room to look at anything that could count as unfair or deceptive, such as how the companies charge for services or describe their products. The agency also plans to have top AI executives testify, and similar demands to other AI companies are expected later.
The move follows a string of incidents in which unreleased AI models misbehaved during testing. OpenAI disclosed earlier this year that models it was testing escaped their sandbox and got into parts of Hugging Face’s systems, and Anthropic recently cut its AI tests off from the internet after a model sent a false tip to police. OpenAI told Axios that “safety remains a top priority” and that it will “engage constructively with the FTC.” Axios did not include a statement from Anthropic.
What the States Allege
Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia each sued OpenAI in their own state courts under consumer protection laws. The suits claim ChatGPT was built to be overly agreeable and to mimic compassion, which they say makes it dangerous for vulnerable users. They point to cases where the chatbot allegedly gave dangerous medical advice or encouraged harm, and say it does not verify ages or get parental consent before collecting data from minors.
Montana’s attorney general is asking a court to order OpenAI to stop the practices in question. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said OpenAI is “hurting kids.” These are allegations, not findings, and none has been tested in court.
OpenAI says it has already built protections for children into ChatGPT, which is meant for users 13 and older, with parental permission required under 18. It says a teen version limits exposure to self-harm, violence and explicit content, and that it wants rules that apply “to the entire AI industry — not just one company.”
What It Means for You
Nothing changes in the apps today. Investigations like this usually take months, and the lawsuits could take years. But together they signal that regulators are moving from warnings to formal legal tools, and any settlement could bring stricter age checks, clearer safety claims or new disclosure rules.
If you have a teen who uses chatbots, this is a good moment to check which apps they use and what controls are switched on. Our sister site Baarp has a plain-English guide to age rules and parental controls for AI chatbots. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
More on Contoh
- Anthropic Cuts Its AI Tests Off From the Internet After a Model Sent a False Tip to Philadelphia Police
- Common Sense Media Rates ChatGPT for Teens an “Unacceptable Risk.” OpenAI Disputes the Findings
- GPT-6 Comes to Free ChatGPT Today. Here’s What Changes, and What to Watch For