Texas Sues OpenAI and Sam Altman, Seeks to Bar Minors From ChatGPT
By Eleanor Klibanoff · · TexaHub · Regulation & Ethics, Artificial Intelligence
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman in Collin County district court on October 23, seeking an injunction that would require OpenAI to block minors from ChatGPT.
The Lawsuit
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit on Friday, October 23, in Collin County district court against OpenAI and its founder and chief executive Sam Altman, alleging the company has deceived and harmed Texans by failing to adequately regulate ChatGPT. [1]
The state named OpenAI Global LLC and Altman as defendants and brought its claims under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act, according to FOX 7 Austin. The suit alleges OpenAI marketed ChatGPT as reliable and safe while releasing an undertrained product without adequate guardrails. [2]
Allegations and Relief
Paxton's office said the harms include mass shooters being aided in deadly rampages, vulnerable people being encouraged toward suicide, professionals suffering public humiliation, users losing critical thinking skills and minors becoming addicted without parental oversight. "This litany of harms is driven by the company's insatiable quest to win the AI arms race and amass large fortunes," the office said in a press release. [1]
The state is asking for a broad injunction that would require OpenAI to block minors' access to ChatGPT and to obtain approval from a court-appointed evaluator before releasing new models, among other restrictions. It is also seeking financial penalties under state consumer protection law. [1] [2]
The petition opens with a 2015 remark by Altman: "AI will probably most likely lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime, there'll be great companies." Texas is represented by outside counsel including Ashley Keller and Tony Buzbee. [1]
OpenAI's Response and Context
An OpenAI spokesperson said the company has "worked closely with experts to continually improve ChatGPT, mitigate risks and build additional safeguards," and that "governments have an important role to play in setting robust safety standards for AI." The company said it was committed to working with Texas and other states on AI policy and pointed to recently added parental controls, mental health safeguards and an under-18 experience. [2]
Paxton, the Republican nominee for US Senate, has sued or settled with Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and Roblox in the past year over child safety. The Texas Tribune noted that Elon Musk, the largest single donor to Paxton's Senate campaign, runs rival chatbot maker xAI, and that Texas has taken no action over Musk's Grok product. [1]
Sources
[1] Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues ChatGPT-maker OpenAI — The Texas Tribune
[2] Texas sues OpenAI over ChatGPT safety claims and alleged harm to minors — FOX 7 Austin via Yahoo News