Inquiry Targets Major AI Developers

The FTC's move places both OpenAI, the developer behind widely used large language models, and rival Anthropic under regulatory scrutiny. The investigation includes the summoning of executives from the companies, indicating the regulator intends to question management directly rather than limit its review to written submissions.

The inquiry follows public controversy over hacking and security issues associated with the AI firms. The specific scope of the FTC's questions and the timeline for executive testimony were not detailed in available information.

Executives Called to Answer

Requiring executives to appear signals an elevated level of regulatory interest in how the leading AI developers handle security and data protection matters. The FTC, the top US consumer protection and competition authority, has previously examined industry practices through 6(b) studies and similar inquiry mechanisms, though the precise procedural basis of the current action was not specified.

OpenAI and Anthropic have not been shown to face formal charges as a result of the inquiry. No findings of wrongdoing have been issued, and the outcome of the review remains undetermined.

The claim that the US FTC is investigating OpenAI and Anthropic over hacking-related controversy and has summoned their executives is Mostly True.