FTC Investigates AI Companies on Safety Claims

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an investigation into several artificial intelligence companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, concerning potential risks their products may present to consumers. The probe was opened recently and predates a White House event on AI safety held Tuesday. The agency has not yet specified which other companies are involved or which particular statements or practices are under scrutiny.

The FTC plans to seek company documents and testimony from executives in the coming weeks. The agency will also request information from METR, an external evaluator that investigated an OpenAI security incident. The reason for needing METR's material has not been disclosed. This investigation comes a day after several major tech firms voluntarily agreed to an AI safety accord with the U.S. administration.

The investigation clarifies how the administration may regulate AI without introducing entirely new rule sets. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has argued that existing laws are sufficient to address many AI-related issues. The FTC is leveraging its existing authority over unfair or deceptive practices, rather than creating new rules specifically for AI.

While the FTC can act against unfair or deceptive practices that harm consumers, it does not set technical safety standards for AI systems. The investigation focuses on whether companies have made misleading claims about their products' safety or risks to consumers. The first significant legal constraints on AI may thus arise from applying old rules to new technology.