Eight US states have filed separate lawsuits accusing OpenAI of violating consumer-protection laws through its development and marketing of ChatGPT. Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana allege the company put growth ahead of user safety.
The complaints say OpenAI promoted ChatGPT as safe and appropriate for young users while failing to warn adequately about risks to vulnerable people. They cite existing cases in which families allege that chatbot interactions contributed to deaths, as well as claims involving dangerous medical advice, paranoia, unhealthy relationships and reduced critical thinking.
The states also accuse OpenAI of collecting information from minors and failing to prevent underage access. They are asking courts for civil penalties and orders stopping allegedly misleading safety claims; some complaints also seek deletion of personal data said to have been collected unlawfully.
These are allegations, not court findings. OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the company has built age-specific protections, including parental controls, break reminders and models tailored for younger users. He acknowledged that no system can be perfect and said OpenAI wants policies that apply across the AI industry. The cases will test both the factual harm claims and whether the company’s public safety representations complied with each state’s law.