FTC escalates investigations into frontier AI developers including OpenAI and Anthropic

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has escalated its previously low-key investigation into civil investigative demands (CIDs) against frontier AI developers such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which can compel companies to submit internal documents and require executives to testify. They are expected to be issued in October, pending staffing at the new Office of Technology. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson said the agency will formally request internal corporate information, while Trump said he may approve the Justice Department to open criminal investigations when out-of-control models threaten critical infrastructure companies. The investigation will also cover METR, a third-party organization often used by frontier developers for internal safety evaluations. A senior FTC official, speaking anonymously, said the matter is still in the exploratory stage and no companies have been asked to stop any conduct. Meanwhile, transparency and third-party audit legislation passed by multiple states will begin taking effect in early 2027.