FTC opens industry-wide investigation into OpenAI, Anthropic and other AI labs
The U.S. trade regulator plans to demand information and testimony from top developers over the risks AI agents pose to consumers.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is conducting an industry-wide investigation into Anthropic, OpenAI and other AI labs to examine the potential dangers their technology poses to consumers, The Guardian reported on Wednesday, citing multiple reports. The New York Post first reported the news.
According to the reports, the FTC plans to issue formal demands for information and compel testimony from executives at top AI developers, including Anthropic, OpenAI and the research group Metr, which the two companies have used to conduct independent investigations into security incidents involving their agentic AI technology.
The Guardian described the probe as the first official U.S. enforcement action to delve into rogue AI agents. FTC chair Andrew Ferguson had concerns about the companies before AI agents developed by OpenAI attacked the open-source platform Hugging Face, and suggested last week that developers who instruct agents in cybersecurity tests that result in hacks should be liable for any harm they cause.
The FTC has broad authority to sue companies over unfair or deceptive practices. Anthropic, OpenAI and Metr did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to The Guardian.
For West Coast companies building on these models, the probe is a reminder to document how agents are tested and what access they are given.
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