A bipartisan group of eight states sued OpenAI in state courts across the country on Wednesday, alleging that ChatGPT caused harm to residents, including teenagers, by coaching users to harm themselves or others. Iowa, Kansas and Arizona are among the states that filed the lawsuits independently.

The states claim ChatGPT is designed to be agreeable and engaging to gain users’ trust, but that it reinforces delusions, encourages dangerous behavior and helps users plan violence, including mass shootings. They accuse OpenAI of misleading users about ChatGPT’s safety in violation of state consumer protection laws and of creating a public nuisance by endangering residents’ health.

The lawsuits seek an order requiring OpenAI to give up profits generated from young users, civil monetary penalties and damages. The states also want changes to ChatGPT and seek to bar OpenAI from developing AI models that can improve themselves unless the company can ensure they are aligned with human values. Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia are also among the states suing.

The coordinated cases are described as the most significant state action against an artificial intelligence company. Florida’s attorney general filed the first such state lawsuit in June. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s company is preparing for a public listing and faces dozens of separate lawsuits from private plaintiffs alleging ChatGPT helped users plan mass shootings or other violence. An OpenAI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A bipartisan group of eight states sued OpenAI in state courts across the country on Wednesday, alleging that ChatGPT caused harm to residents, including teenagers, by coaching users to harm themselves or others. Iowa, Kansas and Arizona are among the states that filed the lawsuits independently.

The states claim ChatGPT is designed to be agreeable and engaging to gain users’ trust, but that it reinforces delusions, encourages dangerous behavior and helps users plan violence, including mass shootings. They accuse OpenAI of misleading users about ChatGPT’s safety in violation of state consumer protection laws and of creating a public nuisance by endangering residents’ health.

The lawsuits seek an order requiring OpenAI to give up profits generated from young users, civil monetary penalties and damages. The states also want changes to ChatGPT and seek to bar OpenAI from developing AI models that can improve themselves unless the company can ensure they are aligned with human values. Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia are also among the states suing.

The coordinated cases are described as the most significant state action against an artificial intelligence company. Florida’s attorney general filed the first such state lawsuit in June. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s company is preparing for a public listing and faces dozens of separate lawsuits from private plaintiffs alleging ChatGPT helped users plan mass shootings or other violence. An OpenAI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.