OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announces partnership while state attorneys general investigate AI regulation and oversight in a press

Editorial illustration for OpenAI confirms cooperation as state attorneys general launch investigation

OpenAI confirms cooperation as state attorneys general...

OpenAI confirms cooperation as state attorneys general launch investigation

By AI Daily Post Edited by Brian Petersen, Editor-in-Chief

June 13, 2026 • 3 min read

A coalition of state attorneys general has opened an investigation into OpenAI, and the company was served with a subpoena from New York’s attorney general on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reports. The subpoena asks for documents on everything from advertising and user‑engagement metrics to model sycophancy, consumer‑data handling, health‑data practices and the treatment of minors and seniors.

OpenAI’s spokesperson told the WSJ the firm is cooperating. “AI is a new and powerful technology, and we work every day to safely bring its benefits to people in a responsible way,” the statement read. The same source added that ChatGPT now “includes a more protective experience for minors and people experiencing difficult situations, with safeguards that direct them to real‑world resources and trusted human contacts.”

The company declined to name the other states involved or to detail what information has been requested. This development follows a recent court win over co‑founder Elon Musk—who plans to appeal—and a slate of ongoing lawsuits ranging from alleged copyright infringement to claims that ChatGPT contributed to suicide. Earlier this month, Florida’s attorney general also weighed in, underscoring the breadth of regulatory scrutiny.

TechCrunch has reached out to OpenAI and the New York attorney general's office for confirmation. A company spokesperson told the WSJ that OpenAI is cooperating with the investigation. "AI is a new and powerful technology, and we work every day to safely bring its benefits to people in a responsible way," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"We take the concerns raised by state attorneys general seriously and intend to engage constructively with their offices." According to Bloomberg, the spokesperson also said that ChatGPT now "includes a more protective experience for minors and people experiencing difficult situations, with safeguards that direct them to real-world resources and trusted human contacts." The company declined to specify which states are involved in the investigation or to share more details about what information was requested. OpenAI recently defeated its co-founder Elon Musk in a high-profile trial, after Musk accused the company of violating its founding agreement. (Musk's lead attorney said he will appeal the decision.) However, OpenAI still faces lawsuits over everything from alleged copyright infringement to ChatGPT's alleged role in suicide.

Earlier this month, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, claiming that OpenAI and Altman "ignored internal and external safety warnings, put children at great risk, and allowed a dangerous product to reach millions of Floridians." Altman recently apologized to the community of Tumbler Ridge, Canada after a mass shooting; he acknowledged that OpenAI failed to alert law enforcement after the company flagged and banned the suspected shooter's ChatGPT account.

OpenAI faces investigation from state attorneys general - TechCrunch AI

Why this matters

The subpoena hits OpenAI at a moment when its products sit at the center of public debate. We now see a coalition of state attorneys general turning formal attention to advertising practices, user engagement metrics, and the handling of consumer and health data. For developers, the focus on model sycophancy suggests future compliance checks may extend to how systems echo user prompts.

Founders should note the explicit mention of minors and seniors; building safeguards could become a licensing prerequisite. Researchers are left with a question: will deeper scrutiny slow experimentation or simply raise the bar for responsible design? OpenAI’s statement that it is cooperating signals willingness to engage, yet the breadth of the inquiry leaves many outcomes uncertain.

Our community must watch how the investigation shapes policy guidance, especially around data privacy and user retention. Until clearer directives emerge, we advise a cautious approach to deploying AI that touches vulnerable populations, and we remain skeptical about how quickly regulatory frameworks will adapt.