OpenAI, the creator of the ChatGPT app, has come under scrutiny by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) amid concerns about the app generating false information. The investigation looks into possible harm caused to consumers and potential misuse of user data by OpenAI’s technology.
In a communication to OpenAI, the FTC asked for information regarding any incidents where users were falsely disparaged and requested insights into the company’s efforts to prevent such instances from happening again. The probe comes as regulators worldwide focus on the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
FTC Chair, Lina Khan, voiced her agency’s worries about ChatGPT’s outputs during a congressional committee hearing. She raised concerns about exposure to sensitive information, libel, defamatory statements, and the circulation of untrue information, classifying such activities as potential fraud and deception.
OpenAI Acknowledges the Need for Regulatory Oversight
OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, had earlier testified before Congress, where he admitted that the technology could be fallible. He emphasized the need for regulatory measures and establishing a new agency to supervise AI safety.
The FTC’s investigation is zeroing in not only on potential user harm but also on OpenAI’s practices related to data privacy and the techniques employed to train and educate its AI technology. OpenAI’s substantial language model, GPT-4, which underlies ChatGPT, is licensed to many other companies for use in their applications.
Despite OpenAI’s attempts to improve the safety and reliability of ChatGPT, concerns about offensive or erroneous content produced by the AI model continue.
Earlier in the year, Italy had temporarily banned ChatGPT due to privacy worries, only to lift the ban after OpenAI incorporated age verification tools and provided more information on its privacy procedures.
Both OpenAI and the FTC are yet to comment on the ongoing investigation.
As AI technology, particularly large language models, becomes more pervasive, regulators must address the potential consumer risks. The result of the FTC’s investigation will have significant implications, not just for OpenAI but for the broader AI industry, as they navigate issues of accuracy, privacy, and user protection in developing and deploying similar technologies.
