California AG Rob Bonta and Delaware AG Kathy Jennings are leading the charge in an active investigation. As you might have seen, they are going after OpenAI, the company responsible for ChatGPT. The scrutiny centers on OpenAI’s proposed restructuring into a for-profit entity, which raises concerns about the preservation of its nonprofit mission aimed at ensuring safety.
This investigation comes on the heels of alarming accounts of sexually explicit conversations between AI chatbots and minors. In response, Bonta and 44 other attorneys general sent a letter to 12 leading AI companies, including OpenAI, emphasizing their commitment to child safety in the use of AI technologies. In the wake of their lawsuit, Bonta and Jennings sat down with OpenAI executives to discuss their qualms. They followed that up with an open letter pointing out the many ways ChatGPT is harmful to children and teens.
As Bonta and Jennings pointed out, the rapid deployment of AI technologies creates an urgent need for strong safety standards. They reiterated this intention in their most recent comments. As such, they have requested detailed answers about OpenAI’s existing safety measures and governance mechanisms. The attorneys general seek immediate corrective action from OpenAI where appropriate.
“Before we get to benefiting, we need to ensure that adequate safety measures are in place to not harm,” – letter
The letter further acknowledged the greater responsibilities that come with being in the AI industry. Let us be clear, we think that OpenAI and the entire industry are still not doing enough. They need to do better by ensuring safety is prioritized throughout the entire development and deployment of AI products. This announcement represents a common signal of the attorneys general in favor of more prudent developments in artificial intelligence.
What happened to OpenAI becoming a for-profit company. It has now undone that damage by committing to preserve its nonprofit status even as it navigates the challenges of running a business. This decision is groundbreaking because it truly fulfills their stated mission to put people’s safety ahead of their bottom line.
Rebecca Bellan is a senior reporter at TechCrunch, focusing on the intersection of business, technology, smart cities and transportation. Her investigative reporting on these changes has shown how OpenAI’s pivoting affects not only its own AI safety standards, but the wider industry.
Conversations are still developing, but Bonta and Jennings are determined to make sure that children’s safety remains front and center. They’re right to highlight this as a priority given the rapid and dangerous evolution of artificial intelligence. The investigation into OpenAI is an important step that can help to promote and establish accountability within the sector.