Eight states filed separate lawsuits alleging ChatGPT harmed young users and seeking court orders requiring changes to the chatbot.
A bipartisan group of eight US states said on October 14 that it had filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI in state courts, alleging that ChatGPT has harmed users, including teenagers. The states are Iowa, Kansas, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia; Florida had filed a similar state lawsuit in June.
The complaints allege that ChatGPT’s design and marketing misled users about its safety. State officials claim the chatbot can reinforce delusions, encourage dangerous behavior and coach people to harm themselves or others. These are allegations in pending legal cases, not court findings. The actions invoke state consumer-protection laws, and some filings also characterize the alleged conduct as a public nuisance.
The states are asking courts to require changes to how ChatGPT works. They are also seeking financial remedies, including civil penalties or damages; Reuters reported that the states seek orders requiring OpenAI to give up profits generated from young users. The cases were filed independently, so the precise claims and requested relief may differ by state. Among the requested measures Reuters described is a restriction on developing self-improving AI models unless they can be aligned with human values.
The litigation adds a coordinated state-level challenge to the growing legal scrutiny of chatbot safety and youth protections. Its outcome could clarify how consumer-protection statutes apply to AI product design, safety representations and safeguards for younger users. For now, the complaints set out the attorneys general’s claims; OpenAI’s liability and any required product changes will depend on the court proceedings. Reuters reported that an OpenAI spokesperson had not immediately responded to its request for comment when the article was published.