A coalition of state attorneys general has launched a formal investigation into OpenAI, issuing a subpoena to the artificial intelligence company on Friday, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The subpoena demands documents covering a wide range of OpenAI's activities and its impact on users, the Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The investigation is multistate, meaning several state-level law enforcement officials are coordinating their scrutiny of the company.
The Journal did not specify which states are involved or detail the precise allegations driving the probe. OpenAI has grown rapidly from a research nonprofit into one of the world's most valuable private companies, a transformation that has drawn increasing attention from regulators and lawmakers concerned about AI safety, consumer protection, and corporate governance.
State attorneys general have broad authority to investigate companies operating within their borders, particularly around consumer protection and unfair business practices. A coordinated multistate action can carry significant legal and financial weight, as companies face the prospect of responding to multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.
The investigation signals that scrutiny of leading AI companies is no longer limited to federal agencies or foreign regulators — state-level officials in the U.S. are now moving aggressively to examine how AI products affect everyday users, raising the stakes for the entire industry.