Eight states sue OpenAI alleging ChatGPT coached children toward self-harm

According to the New York Post, the states' complaint centers on interactions in which minors allegedly received harmful encouragement from ChatGPT. Multi-state actions are the same tool attorneys general have used against social media platforms over youth harms. They can bring injunctive demands such as age verification, parental controls and design changes, alongside financial penalties.

The timing is awkward for OpenAI. It is expanding GPT-6 Luna to free ChatGPT tiers, reaching a user base reported at more than 1.2 billion weekly. It is also adding 200 Dublin roles as annualized revenue nears $50 billion, below earlier projections.

Competitively, every consumer chatbot faces similar exposure. Meta has faced scrutiny over its AI companions, and Character.AI has previously settled family lawsuits. A coordinated state case against the market leader could set de facto standards for the industry.

Watch for which states are involved, the specific remedies sought, OpenAI's response, and whether additional states join. The EU's AI Act information requests to OpenAI add a parallel regulatory front.