According to The Washington Post's report on July 13, OpenAI, the creator of the chatbot ChatGPT, has received a criminal investigation request (CID) from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The CID, which was posted on the newspaper's website, requests information from OpenAI regarding potential unfair or deceptive privacy practices and data security practices. The FTC is also investigating whether there were unfair or deceptive practices related to the risk of harm to consumers and reputational damage. OpenAI has 14 days to respond to the CID.
The CID document comprises 20 pages and includes 49 detailed questions and requests for 17 categories of documents. The FTC seeks information about the large language models used in OpenAI products, their training processes, and how accuracy is ensured. It also asks about advertising policies, risk assessment, personal data collection and protection, identification of "public figures," and procedures for handling feedback and complaints. The questions cover a wide range of topics, including the prevention of false, misleading, or defamatory statements generated by OpenAI's language models.
Since the launch of ChatGPT, backed by Microsoft, there has been significant interest and scrutiny surrounding the technology. Several countries have initiated investigations, and a letter signed by 2,600 tech figures, including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, called for a moratorium on artificial intelligence development. OpenAI has faced multiple lawsuits, including a class-action lawsuit alleging the unauthorized collection of personal data, copyright infringement lawsuits filed by authors, and a lawsuit by comedian Sarah Silverman and others alleging the use of illegal al "shadow libraries" to train the AI system.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been active in addressing AI safety concerns, including delivering a speech on the topic to the US Senate. As the FTC's investigation unfolds, OpenAI will need to provide the requested information and navigate potential legal ramifications. The outcome of the investigation will likely have implications not only for OpenAI but also for the broader development and regulation of AI technologies.
