A multi-state coalition of attorneys general has launched an investigation into OpenAI, with New York Attorney General Letitia James serving the company with a subpoena on Friday. According to The Wall Street Journal, the subpoena demands a wide range of internal documents spanning OpenAI's advertising practices, user engagement and retention metrics, model "sycophancy," how it handles consumer and health data, and its treatment of minors and seniors. OpenAI confirmed to the WSJ that it is cooperating with the inquiry, though it declined to identify which other states are participating or to detail the specific information requested. A company spokesperson said OpenAI "takes the concerns raised by state attorneys general seriously" and intends to "engage constructively," while pointing out that ChatGPT now features a "more protective experience for minors and people experiencing difficult situations."
The probe lands during a particularly turbulent stretch for the ChatGPT maker. Just weeks ago, OpenAI secured a high-profile courtroom win against co-founder Elon Musk, who had accused the company of breaching its founding agreement; Musk's lead attorney has already signaled plans to appeal. The company is also contending with a growing stack of litigation, including copyright infringement claims and suits tied to ChatGPT's alleged role in suicides. Earlier this month, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed suit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging they "ignored internal and external safety warnings, put children at great risk, and allowed a dangerous product to reach millions of Floridians."
The scrutiny has intensified further in the wake of the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, where Altman publicly apologized after acknowledging that OpenAI had flagged and banned the suspected shooter's ChatGPT account but failed to notify law enforcement. The company also disclosed this week that it has confidentially filed paperwork for an initial public offering, putting a potential blockbuster listing on the horizon even as regulators circle. TechCrunch has reached out to both OpenAI and the New York attorney general's office for further comment.