A coalition of state attorneys general has launched an investigation into OpenAI, serving the company with a subpoena on June 12, 2026. The probe, reportedly led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, seeks comprehensive documentation regarding OpenAI's advertising practices, user engagement strategies, and handling of consumer and health data. The investigation also covers the company's activities involving minors and seniors, its internal policies, and instances of AI sycophancy (chatbots excessively reinforcing user views to provide non-balanced responses). OpenAI confirmed it is taking these state-level concerns seriously and plans to engage with the offices involved.

This regulatory action follows OpenAI's confidential filing for a potential initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Legal pressure is mounting from multiple directions; earlier in June 2026, Florida initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, claiming the company released products despite internal warnings about potential safety risks. In April 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier launched a separate criminal investigation into the company's potential role in a mass shooting at Florida State University, where a suspect allegedly consulted a chatbot while planning the attack.

Broader scrutiny of the AI industry is intensifying at the state level. In December 2025, a coalition of 42 state attorneys general issued a warning to OpenAI, Meta, Anthropic, Google, and xAI, calling for stricter safeguards for vulnerable populations and emphasizing potential developer accountability for harmful outputs. Additionally, California Attorney General Rob Bonta began an investigation earlier in 2026 concerning sexually explicit images allegedly generated by xAI's Grok chatbot. These collective actions reflect an increasing focus by state regulators on data integrity, safety measures, and the societal impact of generative AI technologies.

A coalition of state attorneys general has launched an investigation into OpenAI, serving the company with a subpoena on June 12, 2026. The probe, reportedly led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, seeks comprehensive documentation regarding OpenAI's advertising practices, user engagement strategies, and handling of consumer and health data. The investigation also covers the company's activities involving minors and seniors, its internal policies, and instances of AI sycophancy (chatbots excessively reinforcing user views to provide non-balanced responses). OpenAI confirmed it is taking these state-level concerns seriously and plans to engage with the offices involved.

This regulatory action follows OpenAI's confidential filing for a potential initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Legal pressure is mounting from multiple directions; earlier in June 2026, Florida initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, claiming the company released products despite internal warnings about potential safety risks. In April 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier launched a separate criminal investigation into the company's potential role in a mass shooting at Florida State University, where a suspect allegedly consulted a chatbot while planning the attack.

Broader scrutiny of the AI industry is intensifying at the state level. In December 2025, a coalition of 42 state attorneys general issued a warning to OpenAI, Meta, Anthropic, Google, and xAI, calling for stricter safeguards for vulnerable populations and emphasizing potential developer accountability for harmful outputs. Additionally, California Attorney General Rob Bonta began an investigation earlier in 2026 concerning sexually explicit images allegedly generated by xAI's Grok chatbot. These collective actions reflect an increasing focus by state regulators on data integrity, safety measures, and the societal impact of generative AI technologies.