Eight states sue OpenAI, saying ChatGPT is unsafe for children

Eight U.S. states separately sued OpenAI, alleging it put profits over safety, misled users into believing ChatGPT is safe for children, and seeking civil penalties and deletion of illegally collected personal data. The complaints from Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana allege OpenAI violated state consumer protection laws by failing to warn about ChatGPT's dangers, and cite multiple lawsuits from relatives of teens and adults claiming the chatbot was linked to their loved ones' deaths. The complaints also allege OpenAI collected minors' data, failed to adequately prevent minors' use, and cite recent out-of-control AI hacking incidents as evidence of recklessness. OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri responded that the company has built industry-leading age-specific protections into ChatGPT and will continue working with experts to add guardrails such as parental controls, break reminders, and age-appropriate model protections.