Texas sues OpenAI over chatbot safety and risks to minors

The Texas Legal Action

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman. The legal action was filed in state district court under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices–Consumer Protection Act. The state argues that the company deceived the public regarding the safety of its flagship chatbot, ChatGPT.

According to the complaint, OpenAI marketed the tool as a reliable and safe product while releasing it without sufficient guardrails. State prosecutors believe the company chose to prioritize its position in the market over the safety of its users. They argue that the technology can produce information that is both inaccurate and potentially damaging to the public.

The lawsuit highlights a shift in the company's trajectory since its founding in 2015. It contrasts OpenAI's original mission as a non-profit organization intended to benefit the public with its current commercial expansion. Paxton stated that the company has a responsibility to warn users of the many dangers of its platform.

Alleged Risks and Harms

The state's lawsuit outlines several specific consequences that have arisen from the widespread use of the chatbot. One major concern involves vulnerable users who may have been encouraged toward self-harm by the AI's outputs. Additionally, the complaint notes that minors have become overly reliant on the software without any supervision from their parents.

The lawsuit also addresses the impact on professional users who have faced public humiliation due to incorrect outputs from the model. There are further claims that individuals seeking assistance with violent acts have improperly used the technology. These allegations suggest that the lack of adequate training in the model has led to significant real-world issues.

By filing this suit, Texas aims to ensure that powerful technology companies are held accountable to the law. The state is seeking both financial penalties and injunctive relief under consumer protection statutes. This move signals a growing interest in how state-level laws can be used to police emerging technologies.

OpenAI's Defense

OpenAI has responded to the legal action by defending its internal development practices. A spokesperson for the company stated that they have worked closely with experts to improve ChatGPT and mitigate various risks. They emphasized their commitment to building additional safeguards as part of their focus on responsible delivery.

The company argues that governments have a vital role to play in establishing robust safety standards for the entire industry. They expressed a willingness to work with Texas and other states to create pragmatic AI policies. OpenAI suggests that these policies should apply to all companies rather than targeting just one specific entity.

The company maintains that it is actively working to balance the benefits of AI with the necessary protections for the public. By focusing on industry-wide standards, they hope to create a framework that allows for innovation while addressing safety concerns. This response positions OpenAI as a collaborator in the regulatory process rather than just a defendant.

Safety and Minor Protection

In recent months, OpenAI has taken several concrete steps to bolster safety features across its platform. These updates are particularly aimed at protecting younger demographics and handling sensitive queries more carefully. Toward the end of 2025, the firm teamed up with over 170 specialists in mental health to improve how the model behaves during sensitive interactions.

This collaboration resulted in measurable reductions in inappropriate responses during these types of interactions. The platform now includes expanded links to crisis hotlines and automated reminders for users to take breaks. It also uses enhanced routing to direct sensitive conversations to models with higher guardrails.

To specifically address concerns about younger users, OpenAI established a group dedicated to well-being and AI. They implemented Under-18 Principles in their operational guidelines and introduced tools to predict the age of users. These tools are designed to automatically apply heightened safeguards to accounts that are likely to belong to minors.

New Tools for Teens

OpenAI has also introduced a specialized experience designed specifically for teenage users. This experience includes enhanced parental oversight controls and prompts that encourage healthy use of the software. These features are intended to provide a safer environment for minors who may be interacting with the AI without direct supervision.

The company is attempting to balance the accessibility of the tool with the need for age-appropriate restrictions. By creating a dedicated experience for teens, they aim to provide a layer of protection that standard accounts might lack. This move follows the allegations in the lawsuit regarding the risks of minors using the software without parental guidance.

Moving forward, the company will likely continue to refine these tools as they navigate the legal challenges in Texas. The success of these features will be a key indicator of how the company intends to meet the demands of regulators. They remain committed to advancing policies that promote the benefits of AI while minimizing potential harms.

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