ChatGPT Maker OpenAI Faces FTC Probe Over Risks to Consumers, Report Says
According to reports, the US Federal Trade Commission has initiated a probe into potential violations of consumer protection laws by OpenAI, the company responsible for the widely-used AI chatbot ChatGPT.
As per an article in The Washington Post on Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reportedly sent OpenAI a comprehensive 20-page document demanding information regarding issues associated with data privacy and potential damage to reputation. The FTC also requested specific information regarding OpenAI's expansive language model, the underlying technology of its AI chatbot that generates responses. This includes the sources utilized for training the model and the methods employed to acquire the data, as stated in the shared document provided by The Washington Post.
CNET has not confirmed the request on its own. The Federal Trade Commission has chosen not to provide any comments.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has existed for a long time, but its development has accelerated quickly and started to become a part of our daily lives. OpenAI introduced ChatGPT towards the end of the previous year, leading to many more generative AI offerings from companies like Microsoft, Google, Adobe, and others.
Using cues, contemporary chatbots are capable of generating email replies, travel plans, and even verse, among other tasks, although the level of excellence may differ. Nonetheless, chatbots are inclined to generate inaccurate responses and occasionally provide sources that are nonexistent, commonly referred to as hallucinations.
The FTC has requested OpenAI to provide details about the measures they have implemented to minimize illusions and any grievances they have received concerning ChatGPT's creation of inaccurate, deceptive, derogatory, or detrimental statements about individuals. The request, which has been shared by the Post, comes as OpenAI is currently confronted with a legal case for defamation. The allegations state that ChatGPT fabricated legal accusations against a radio talk show host in Georgia.
OpenAI's Sam Altman recently expressed on Twitter that ensuring the safety and benefit for consumers is of utmost significance to their organization. Altman further stated that OpenAI is highly certain about its adherence to legal requirements but remains open to collaborating with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Altman stated that we prioritize safeguarding user confidentiality and construct our systems to gain knowledge about the world rather than specific individuals' personal information.
It's truly disheartening to witness the initiation of the FTC's request being revealed through a leak, which doesn't contribute to fostering trust. Nevertheless, it is of utmost significance for us to ensure that our technology remains secure and beneficial for consumers. We firmly believe that we abide by the law. Naturally, we will cooperate fully with the FTC.
According to reports, the FTC requested information regarding the quantity of individuals affected in March due to a glitch that exposed certain personal information of ChatGPT Plus users, including their payment details. OpenAI previously stated that the number of individuals whose data was disclosed was "exceptionally small."
To delve deeper into artificial intelligence, take a look at CNET's analysis of AI chatbots and witness how AI is transforming the hiring process.
Editors' note: CNET is utilizing an artificial intelligence engine to assist in generating certain articles. For additional information, refer to this article.
