Eight US States Sue OpenAI Over Alleged Harm to Children

Eight US states have filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, accusing the company of harming children and misleading parents about the chatbot's safety, according to court documents.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird initiated the action, with authorities from Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana joining the case.

The suits allege ChatGPT can offer dangerous medical advice, encourage self-harm and harm to others, and reinforce paranoid or delusional thinking. Plaintiffs also claim interaction with the chatbot can negatively affect critical thinking and foster unhealthy behavioral patterns.

"ChatGPT has proven it can be dangerous for vulnerable users, such as children," Iowa's attorney general said in a statement.

The states are seeking to hold OpenAI accountable under local consumer protection laws.