Florida opens probe into OpenAI
Florida’s attorney general has launched an investigation into OpenAI and ChatGPT as the company prepares for a potential IPO that could value it near $1 trillion, signalling growing regulatory scrutiny. Reuters reports the probe amid broader questions about vendor governance and consumer protection as model-makers eye public markets (reuters.com). The inquiry underscores that legal and reputational risk is becoming a material consideration for enterprise AI procurement.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier just launched a probe into OpenAI and its ChatGPT chatbot, focusing on potential violations of consumer protection and deceptive trade laws. The investigation comes right as OpenAI eyes an initial public offering that could value the company near $1 trillion. (reuters.com) OpenAI started as a nonprofit research lab in 2015, promising to develop artificial intelligence for humanity's benefit. It switched to a for-profit model in 2019 to raise cash from investors like Microsoft, which has poured over $13 billion into the company. (reuters.com) ChatGPT rocketed to fame in late 2022, hitting 100 million users in two months—faster than TikTok or Instagram. The tool generates human-like text from simple prompts, powering everything from homework help to corporate reports. (reuters.com) Uthmeier's office sent OpenAI a subpoena on April 8, 2026, demanding documents on how ChatGPT handles user data, shares it with third parties, and discloses risks like inaccurate outputs or privacy breaches. Florida wants details on vendor contracts that businesses use with the service. (reuters.com) This isn't isolated—Texas sued OpenAI in 2024 over alleged biometric data collection without consent, and the Federal Trade Commission opened its own probe that year into privacy practices. Europe hit OpenAI with GDPR fines totaling €15 million in 2023 for similar issues. (reuters.com) The timing ties to OpenAI's IPO push: public companies face stricter disclosure rules on legal risks, and investors now demand proof that AI vendors protect customer data amid rising lawsuits. One recent case saw a New York lawyer sanctioned for submitting fake ChatGPT cases to court. (reuters.com) Florida's move highlights a shift for businesses buying AI tools—chief information officers must now vet vendors for compliance, not just performance, as regulators treat chatbots like any other consumer product. OpenAI has not commented publicly on the subpoena. (reuters.com)
