FTC issues subpoenas to Anthropic and OpenAI over safety incidents

The Federal Trade Commission has subpoenaed Anthropic and OpenAI to gather information about potential consumer protection violations, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed.

The development, first reported by Axios, comes just two weeks after the FTC said it was investigating the artificial intelligence companies as part of a probe it launched this summer. The agency declined further comment about the probe. 

The FTC is seeking documents on safety incidents, privacy policies and safeguards at Anthropic and OpenAI, Axios reported. The companies have come under public scrutiny in recent months after several incidents in which their AI models went rogue and hacked into websites.

The agency, which sent civil investigative demands to Anthropic and OpenAI on Wednesday, will also issue subpoenas to third-party organizations at a later date, according to Axios, which cited a person familiar with the matter.

The FTC could compel Anthropic and OpenAI to testify before Congress about their products, a move that would allow the government to press the companies about the safety of their technology as the public grows increasingly wary about its potential harms. 

A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 64% of U.S. adults think AI is developing "too fast." Eight in 10 said it's "extremely" or "very" important for the U.S. government to ensure that AI stays under human control.

President Trump has resisted calls to slow the development of AI, saying that the technology is vital to U.S. national interests. He recently announced the creation of a "Super Intelligence Force" to coordinate with the federal government on AI matters and engage with consumers, public interest groups and other stakeholders.