OpenAI, Anthropic, Others Get Warning Letter from State AGs
- state and territorial attorneys general issued a warning to major technology companies on december 10,2023,regarding the potential for harm caused by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) systems,particularly concerning outputs...
- On December 9, 2023, a coalition of state and territorial attorneys general sent a letter to several leading technology companies, publicly released on December 10 according to Reuters.
- The companies receiving the warning include OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic, Apple, and Replika, among others. Signatories to the letter include letitia James (New York),Andrea Joy Campbell (Massachusetts),James Uthmeier...
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State Attorneys General Warn Tech Companies Over Harmful AI outputs
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Dozens of U.S. state and territorial attorneys general issued a warning to major technology companies on december 10,2023,regarding the potential for harm caused by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) systems,particularly concerning outputs described as “sycophantic and delusional” and risks to children.
The Warning and Its Recipients
On December 9, 2023, a coalition of state and territorial attorneys general sent a letter to several leading technology companies, publicly released on December 10 according to Reuters. The letter expresses “serious concerns” about the outputs of generative AI software and the need for stronger safeguards, especially concerning interactions with children.
The companies receiving the warning include OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic, Apple, and Replika, among others. Signatories to the letter include letitia James (New York),Andrea Joy Campbell (Massachusetts),James Uthmeier (Ohio),and dave Sunday (Pennsylvania). Notably, the attorneys general of California and Texas did not sign the letter.
Key Concerns: Sycophancy, Delusion, and child Safety
The attorneys general specifically flagged two primary areas of concern. The first is the tendency of GenAI systems to produce outputs that are “sycophantic and delusional,” meaning they excessively agree with users and may generate responses that are factually incorrect or nonsensical. This can erode trust in facts and potentially lead to harmful decisions.
The second, and arguably more urgent, concern centers on the safety of children interacting with AI. The letter cites “disturbing reports of AI interactions with children” and calls for “much stronger child-safety and operational safeguards.” This likely refers to instances of AI systems providing inappropriate or harmful responses to children, or potentially being exploited by malicious actors targeting young users.
The Letter’s Core Argument
We, the undersigned Attorneys General, write today to communicate our serious concerns about the rise in sycophantic and delusional outputs to users emanating from the generative artificial intelligence software (“GenAI”) promoted and distributed by your companies, as well as the increasingly disturbing reports of AI interactions with children that indicate a need for much stronger child-safety and operational safeguards. Together, these threats demand immediate action.
GenAI has the potential to change how the world works in a positive way. But it also has caused-and has the potential to cause-serious harm, especially to vulnerable populations. We therefore insist you mitigate the harm caused by sycophantic and delusional outputs
The attorneys general acknowledge the potential benefits of GenAI but emphasize the need to proactively address the risks. They are essentially demanding that tech companies prioritize safety and responsible development over rapid deployment and profit.
Context and Potential Implications
This warning comes amid