Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jun 13: OpenAI is under investigation by a coalition of US state attorneys general, who have sought information from the artificial intelligence company on a wide range of issues related to its operations and products.
A spokesperson for the company confirmed on Friday that OpenAI is cooperating with the investigation.
“AI is a new and powerful technology, and we work every day to safely bring its benefits to people in a responsible way. We take the concerns raised by state attorneys general seriously and intend to engage constructively with their offices,” the spokesperson said.
OpenAI gained worldwide prominence following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, which sparked a surge in interest and investment in artificial intelligence technologies across industries.
The company is among the world's most valuable startups and was reportedly valued at $852 billion during a fundraising round in March. Earlier this week, OpenAI also disclosed that it had confidentially filed paperwork for an initial public offering (IPO).
The latest investigation comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of AI companies in the United States.
Earlier this month, the state of Florida filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive officer, Sam Altman, alleging that the company ignored safety concerns and released ChatGPT despite being aware of potential risks to users.
OpenAI has also faced multiple lawsuits from individuals alleging that its chatbot caused various forms of harm to both adults and children. Some complaints have included allegations that interactions with AI systems contributed to severe mental health issues and suicide-related incidents.
Responding to such concerns, the company said additional safety measures have been implemented.
“Today’s ChatGPT includes a more protective experience for minors and people experiencing difficult situations, with safeguards that direct them to real-world resources and trusted human contacts,” the spokesperson said.
The company declined to disclose details regarding the specific information requested by the attorneys general or identify the states participating in the investigation.
The probe was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.