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Attorneys general warn OpenAI ‘harm to children will not be tolerated’
California and Delaware Attorneys General expressed serious concerns over OpenAI's ChatGPT safety for children, citing recent tragic incidents linked to AI interactions. They demand immediate action and transparency regarding safety measures as OpenAI transitions to a for-profit model, emphasizing that child safety must be prioritized in AI development.
Key points
- Attorney General Rob Bonta and Kathy Jennings warned OpenAI about ChatGPT's risks for children.
- The warning follows reports of inappropriate chatbot interactions and tragic events, including a suicide in California and a murder-suicide in Connecticut.
- Bonta and Jennings are investigating OpenAI's restructuring to ensure the nonprofit's mission of safe AI deployment is upheld.
- They communicated the need for improved safety measures in AI product development and prompted OpenAI for more information on current safeguards.
- Public safety is a core mission for attorneys general, and they see current AI safety measures as inadequate.
Why it matters
- This statement reflects growing concerns in tech about AI safety, especially for vulnerable populations.
- The warnings tie into broader 2025 IT trends emphasizing ethical AI, data protection, and user safety amid rapid technological advancement.
- Similar issues of accountability and regulation of AI technology have been seen in past events related to tech companies facing public scrutiny.
The attorneys general's call underscores the urgent need for robust child safety measures in AI development, highlighting the balance between innovation and public safety as critical for the future of technology.