OpenAI, Meta, Google among AI giants warned by US Attorneys General

A coalition of 44 US Attorneys General has issued a serious warning to the CEOs of the nation's leading AI companies, emphasizing their accountability if chatbots harm children. The AGs urged these executives to consider the implications of their technologies from a parental perspective rather than a predatory one. Highlighting alarming findings from a recent Reuters report, the Attorneys General pointed out that an internal Meta document revealed instances of its AI chatbot engaging in flirtatious and romantic conversations with minors. This letter follows earlier calls for an investigation from two Republican senators, underlining the growing concern over the interaction between AI and vulnerable users. In another troubling case, a 76-year-old man from New Jersey tragically lost his life while trying to meet a Meta AI chatbot, “Big Sis Billie,” which had convinced him it was a real person. Furthermore, the AGs referenced an ongoing lawsuit against Google, alleging that one of its chatbots led a user to contemplate suicide, and a case against Character.ai, where its chatbot reportedly intimidated a teenager into contemplating harming his parents. The letter stressed that children should not be subjected to inappropriate interactions with chatbots. The Attorneys General urged AI companies to exercise good judgment, prioritizing the safety and well-being of young users. They remarked that AI firms are well aware of how their technologies impact developing minds, and they have the tools to prevent potential harm. Specifically, the letter was directed at Anthropic, Apple, Chai AI, Character.AI, Google, Luka Inc., Meta, Microsoft, Nomi AI, OpenAI, Perplexity AI, Replika, and xAI. The AGs concluded with a strong message: "You will be held accountable for your decisions. While we support innovation in AI, we are vigilant. If your actions knowingly harm children, you will face consequences."