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Attorneys general in Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, and West Virginia have all filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI as part of a coordinated effort to question whether OpenAI has misled consumers into believing ChatGPT is safer and more medically reliable than it actually is. For example, Iowa is seeking financial penalties of up to $40,000 per Consumer Fraud Act violation, compensation for affected consumers, and court-ordered changes to OpenAI’s safety practices. It also seeks restrictions on further testing of advanced AI systems until safeguards are independently verified. Although questionable medical advice is a significant part of the complaints, the overlapping lawsuits are much broader, encompassing suicide prevention, mental health, child safety, and the risks of increasingly autonomous artificial intelligence. The legal theory is that OpenAI allegedly knew about significant safety risks but failed to adequately disclose or address them.
Building protections: OpenAI disputes the allegations and says it has introduced age-specific safeguards, parental controls, and other protections. The company also maintains that it will work with experts and states “on advancing pragmatic AI policies that apply to the entire AI industry.” The lawsuits are civil actions and seek remedies such as monetary penalties, consumer restitution, and court orders requiring changes to OpenAI’s practices.