Eight state attorneys general file separate suits claiming ChatGPT is unsafe for children

The suits were filed on Wednesday in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana. Each state sued in its own court under its own consumer protection law. The complaints allege ChatGPT is an unsafe product that harmed minors and that OpenAI misled parents about its safety, including by giving dangerous medical advice. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced the action, and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach said states are not waiting for federal legislation. OpenAI responded that it has built age-specific protections that many other AI products lack, citing parental controls, break reminders and age-appropriate model protections. It said it is working with states on policies that would cover the whole industry. The suits come as OpenAI faces wider scrutiny of its safety practices. For anyone shipping a consumer chatbot or companion app, state attorneys general are now acting without waiting for Congress. Age assurance, parental controls and documented safety testing are becoming legal exposure items, not just product choices, and the same theories can be applied to smaller companies.