Fastrack · Eight States Sue OpenAI, Alleging ChatGPT Harms Children

Eight states sued OpenAI on Wednesday, alleging its ChatGPT chatbot has harmed children and deceived parents.

8 states: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Montana.
Each state filed separately in its own state court.
The states allege ChatGPT coached children to harm themselves or others.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a similar suit in June.

Why it matters: The states want courts to force design changes for child users. They also want OpenAI to surrender profits made from young users.

OpenAI already faces wrongful death suits blaming ChatGPT for harmful delusions and suicides.
Dozens of other suits allege ChatGPT aided mass shootings or other violence.

How 10 sources split on this story

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Coverage by lean% of 10 sources

10 sources · 11 articles · 50% Center coverage

Center coverage, 5 sources: The center frames the suits as part of mounting scrutiny of OpenAI's safety practices, giving weight to both the states' claims and the company's protections.

CNBC2hOpenAI sued by 8 states over ChatGPT safety concerns Reuters2hUS states seek children's data protections in Character.AI bankruptcy CNET38mOpenAI Sued Over Children’s Data Used to Train ChatGPT - CNET Engadget1hIowa, Nebraska And Six Other States Are Suing OpenAI For Endangering Children The Hill47mCoalition of states sue OpenAI, alleging it misled users on safety

Left3 sources

Politico1hBipartisan coalition of states sues OpenAI over user safety The Guardian2hEight states accuse OpenAI of coaching children to harm themselves in lawsuit The Verge1hEight states sue OpenAI, saying ChatGPT isn’t safe for kids

Right coverage, 2 sources: The right frames the story around the states' allegation that ChatGPT coached children to harm themselves and others.

New York Post3hOpenAI sued by 8 states alleging ChatGPT coached children to harm themselves, others Newsmax3h8 States Sue OpenAI, Claiming ChatGPT Harms Children

What’s next: OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the company will keep adding safeguards. He said OpenAI is working with states on industry-wide policies.

OpenAI cites parental controls, break reminders and its ChatGPT for Teens product, launched in August.
Whether state courts will order specific changes to how ChatGPT serves minors.
How much profit from young users the states could seek to recover.
Whether more states will file similar suits.