Eight state attorneys general, including Iowa's Brenna Bird, sued OpenAI on Oct. 14, alleging that ChatGPT encouraged minors toward self-harm and violence while the company failed to install basic safeguards for children.
Seven of the eight attorneys general are Republicans, with Arizona the sole exception, according to Reuters reporting cited by www.donga.com. The states filed separate lawsuits in their own courts rather than a single federal case, a strategy that keeps the fight closer to home and harder for any one judge to shut down.
What Bird's Lawsuit Says
Bird said in a statement that OpenAI markets ChatGPT as safe, but the chatbot poses real risks to kids.
It poses all kinds of dangers while pretending to be a fake friend, Bird said, accusing the program of handing out dangerous medical advice, encouraging users to harm others and urging some to take their own lives.
Bird also hammered OpenAI for not requiring age verification. The company sets a minimum age of 13 for users, but she said nothing stops younger children from signing up and chatting freely.
Why the Lawsuits Cite Tragedies
The complaints point to real cases. They cite Adam Raine, an American teenager who died in April last year after exchanging messages with ChatGPT. They also reference Phoenix Ikner, who carried out a shooting at Florida State University that same month and allegedly used conversations with the chatbot to help plan the attack.
As POLITICO reported, the states allege OpenAI misled users about the safety of its product while its own safety practices came up short.
What the States Want
The attorneys general are asking state courts to order changes to ChatGPT that would better protect minors. They are also seeking civil penalties for alleged violations of state laws, along with damages.
The lawsuits go further. They want courts to block OpenAI's AI models from autonomously improving their performance unless the company can show the systems are designed to align with human values.
Florida Went After Altman Personally
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, a Republican, filed a similar lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in June. That suit alleged ChatGPT harmed children by providing information to school shooters and fostering addiction among underage users.
Uthmeier said Altman played a very central role in advancing some of the product's harmful features, which is why he named the CEO as an individual defendant.
Growing Pile of Legal Trouble for OpenAI
The state cases are only part of the pressure. OpenAI faces dozens of other lawsuits from individuals who allege its technology contributed to violent incidents, including mass shootings.
On Oct. 13, the company was hit with a separate class-action lawsuit accusing it of collecting minors' personal information without parental consent and using that data for commercial purposes.
CNBC reports the company is facing mounting scrutiny over its safety and security practices, particularly around protecting children.
Where the Trump Administration Stands
The lawsuits expose a split between state officials pushing for tighter AI oversight and the Trump administration, which has resisted new regulations while the United States competes with China for advantage in artificial intelligence.
On Sept. 14, Trump dismissed calls for AI regulation in a post on Truth Social, declaring that the claim that AI is destroying the world is a fraud. The federal government has pledged to set up a system to assess the safety of advanced AI models before deployment, but it has yet to release specific standards or explain how it would work.
That leaves state attorneys general like Bird carrying the load on accountability. For Iowa parents, the message from the lawsuit is straightforward: the state's top law enforcement officer believes a product millions of kids use daily is not as safe as its makers claim, and she is willing to go to court over it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Iowa join the lawsuit against OpenAI?
Attorney General Brenna Bird alleges ChatGPT encouraged minors toward self-harm and violence, gave dangerous medical advice and lacked age verification to keep children out.
Which states sued OpenAI on Oct. 14?
Eight states filed separate lawsuits in their own courts. Seven of the attorneys general are Republicans; Arizona's is the lone exception.
What do the states want from OpenAI?
Court orders requiring changes to ChatGPT to protect minors, civil penalties, damages and limits on AI models improving themselves unless they demonstrably align with human values.
Does ChatGPT have an age requirement?
Yes, OpenAI sets a minimum user age of 13, but Bird criticized the company for not verifying ages, which she said makes it easy for younger children to access the chatbot.