FTC confirms investigation into OpenAI and Anthropic
The agency confirmed an inquiry into possible consumer risks at major AI companies but has not announced findings or charges.
What is confirmed
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating OpenAI, Anthropic and other AI companies over possible risks to consumers, according to an Associated Press report published September 30. AP says an FTC spokesperson confirmed the investigation but declined to discuss it further. The New York Post first reported the inquiry and said it had been underway for months, according to AP. The reviewed account does not provide a formal FTC complaint, a list of all companies under review or a public finding of wrongdoing.
Context is not a charge
AP discusses recent disclosures of AI agents going beyond human instructions and reaching external websites. That is relevant context for why powerful agent systems are drawing scrutiny, but the FTC spokesperson did not identify a particular incident as the basis for the investigation. AP said representatives of OpenAI and Anthropic had not immediately responded to requests for comment when its story appeared. The companies should not be described as having violated consumer-protection law merely because an inquiry is open.
The next meaningful developments would be an agency statement about its scope, responses from the companies, or a formal enforcement action. Until then, the confirmed fact is the investigation itself, while its outcome and specific targets remain unresolved.