OpenAI Faces Coordinated Lawsuits Over ChatGPT's Safety Concerns

A coordinated effort by multiple states has led to the filing of lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging that its chatbot ChatGPT harmed children and deceived parents into thinking the product was safe. The lawsuits were filed in eight states: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana. These states claim that OpenAI violated various consumer protection laws by omitting or concealing information about ChatGPT’s risks to children.

The lawsuits highlight several cases of underage users who died by suicide after engaging with the chatbot, sharing their struggles, and soliciting advice on how to end their lives. The attorneys general from these states argue that OpenAI rolled out its products too quickly, without ensuring they were safe for use. West Virginia Attorney General JB McCusky stated, ‘We know it was unsafe because there are countless examples of children having been instructed how to commit suicide and engage in dangerous sexual activities with other children.’

The lawsuits also claim that ChatGPT’s release aided mass shooters, coached vulnerable citizens on suicide, exacerbated symptoms for individuals with psychological conditions, and led minors to become addicted to the tool. OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri responded by saying that while no system can be perfect, they will continue working with experts to inform their work and build additional safeguards, such as parental controls and age-appropriate model protections.

The latest lawsuits come on the heels of a lawsuit filed in June by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier against OpenAI. This lawsuit also alleged that the company rushed the release of ChatGPT at the expense of minors’ safety and concealed its risks. Additionally, individuals have filed separate lawsuits claiming that ChatGPT caused or exacerbated mental health complications. Common Sense Media recently classified ChatGPT for Teens as posing an ‘unacceptable risk’ to underage users after testing over 4,000 prompts before and after the teen settings launched in August.