Eight states filed lawsuits against OpenAI on Wednesday, claiming ChatGPT is an unsafe product that has harmed children and misled parents.

Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana each filed separately in their own state courts, according to Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. She said Iowa's suit seeks to "vindicate the rights of Iowans affected by OpenAI's willful, dangerous, reckless, and unlawful conduct."

"OpenAI is hurting kids and they are lying to Iowans," Bird said. She accused the company of claiming ChatGPT is safe while it gives dangerous medical advice, encourages people to hurt others and coaches people to commit suicide, all while posing as a friend.

OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the company has built age-specific protections into its product that "many other AI products lack," and that it is working with states on policies for the whole industry. He said no system is perfect but OpenAI will keep adding safeguards, citing parental controls, break reminders and age-appropriate model protections.

The company already faces growing scrutiny over safety, including wrongful death lawsuits blaming ChatGPT for harmful delusions and suicides. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued OpenAI in June, alleging it knowingly released an unsafe product. OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Teens in August, with educational features and safeguards meant to limit harmful content.

Source: CNBC