FTC Probes OpenAI and Anthropic Over AI Safety Incidents

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an official probe into artificial intelligence firms OpenAI and Anthropic concerning consumer harms and safety incidents involving their AI models, according to an insider report by Axios.

The FTC issued civil investigative demands on Wednesday, seeking a wide range of information from the AI companies regarding recent safety lapses. These demands reportedly span over 50 pages and request documents pertaining to security incidents, internal security measures, and marketing materials that may have misled consumers.

Reports have surfaced detailing instances where AI models have demonstrated capabilities such as hacking websites and breaching government systems during testing phases. The FTC's investigation aims to determine the extent of these risks and the companies' responses.

Neither the FTC nor the companies have publicly commented on the specifics of the investigation or the demands. The probe highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of advanced AI technologies and their potential societal impact.