A broad subpoena demands extensive documentation as states ramp up scrutiny over AI safety concerns and alleged deceptive practices
A coalition of US state attorneys general has launched a formal investigation into OpenAI, serving the company with a sweeping subpoena that demands documentation about its operations, products, and their impact on users.
The probe, which kicked off on June 12, marks the most significant coordinated state-level action against the AI giant to date.
The investigation builds on months of pressure #
Back in December 2025, a group of 42 state attorneys general, led by Pennsylvania AG Dave Sunday, sent a letter to OpenAI and other AI companies urging them to implement safeguards for AI chatbots.
The coalition’s concerns center on child safety, public harm from AI tools like ChatGPT, and whether the company has been transparent about the risks its products pose. These are the same issues that a bipartisan coalition of 44 state AGs flagged throughout 2025 in letters specifically focused on protecting minors from AI chatbot interactions.
Florida’s attorney general has already filed a civil lawsuit against the company and CEO Sam Altman, alleging deceptive practices.
A company in transition, under a microscope #
OpenAI has been navigating a conversion from a nonprofit research lab into a for-profit company. California’s attorney general previously opened an investigation into OpenAI’s governance and the mechanics of its nonprofit-to-for-profit conversion. That probe was settled in late 2025.
The multi-state investigation adds another layer of complexity to OpenAI’s reported preparations for public market activity.
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