Did Sam Altman put profits before safety? 8 US states sue OpenAI over ChatGPT risks

OpenAI is facing lawsuits filed by eight US states accusing the company of putting profits ahead of safety while developing ChatGPT. The complaints, filed separately on October 14, 2026, allege that the AI company misled consumers about the chatbot’s safety, exposed children and other vulnerable users to potential harm, and violated state consumer protection laws.

Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana filed the lawsuits. According to Reuters, the states are seeking civil penalties and court orders to prevent OpenAI from making misleading claims about ChatGPT’s safety.