8 US states sue OpenAI over ChatGPT safety claims, seek halt to advanced AI testing

Eight US states filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI on Wednesday, alleging that the company misled consumers about ChatGPT’s safety and exposed users to harmful behaviour. The coordinated legal action involves Iowa, Kansas, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia. In Iowa, Attorney General Brenna Bird sued OpenAI and seven affiliated entities in Polk County District Court, alleging violations of the state’s Consumer Fraud Act. The petition challenges ChatGPT’s safety and reliability claims and alleges that OpenAI failed to adequately safeguard autonomous AI agents during testing. MediaNama reviewed Iowa’s petition to examine the allegations and the remedies the state is seeking, including restrictions on advanced AI-model testing. The state relies on public reporting, a tracker called LLM Death Count, and allegations made in other lawsuits.