Report: FTC investigates Anthropic and OpenAI after Trump called AI fears a hoax
anthropic openai
| Source: Mastodon | Original article
The FTC has opened investigations into Anthropic and OpenAI over alleged breaches, questioning corporate liability for chatbot harms after Trump dismissed AI concerns as a hoax.
The Federal Trade Commission has stepped up its scrutiny of the two biggest U.S. chatbot developers, issuing formal subpoenas to Anthropic and OpenAI as part of a broader investigation into the safety of their generative‑AI models. The move was announced after former President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about AI as a “hoax,” prompting the agency’s chair, Andrew Ferguson, to stress that companies must be held accountable for harms caused by their chatbots. Ferguson told Reuters he is “tired” of seeing the same safety failures repeat and said the FTC will consider whether firms should face penalties comparable to those imposed on companies that delay reporting data breaches.
The subpoenas request internal documents on recent safety incidents, privacy policies and the safeguards each firm has in place. The FTC’s action follows a series of earlier enforcement steps, including the roughly 50‑page civil investigative demands sent to both companies on 15 October, which focused on safeguarding practices and consumer protection. The current probe expands the scope, looking not only at past incidents but also at the broader question of liability when AI systems produce harmful or misleading outputs.
The investigation matters because it signals that regulators are moving from information‑gathering to potential enforcement. If the FTC concludes that Anthropic or OpenAI failed to implement adequate safety controls, the agencies could face fines on par with those levied for delayed breach disclosures, a financial hit that could reshape budgeting for safety research across the sector.
Watch for a formal FTC report later this year, which may outline specific violations and trigger enforcement actions. Industry observers will also be watching congressional hearings on AI oversight, as lawmakers consider whether new legislation is needed to codify liability standards. The outcome could set a precedent for how AI firms worldwide manage risk and respond to regulatory demands.
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