Several state attorneys general on Wednesday filed individual lawsuits in their state courts against the artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI, alleging that the policies of its generative chatbot ChatGPT are harmful to children and deceitful to parents. The states that have filed suits include Iowa, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, West Virginia and Nebraska.

The suits largely express safety concerns surrounding AI’s explosive and rapid integration into the lives of millions of Americans, claiming that OpenAI has failed to adequately protect users of ChatGPT, particularly teens and children. In their effort to hold OpenAI accountable for “unlawful business practices,” each state hangs its legal argument on the corporation’s violation of its specific consumer protection laws.

The states point to OpenAI’s “misrepresentation” that ChatGPT is a safe, teen-appropriate tool, when in reality, the Iowa suit plainly states that “there is a growing body of research indicating that ChatGPT is also degrading critical thinking skills, encouraging paranoias and delusions, offering dangerous medical advice, and promoting unhealthy behaviors and relationships.”

According to the Montana suit, OpenAI’s deceptive actions violate the state consumer protection laws intended to protect its citizens from such “willful, dangerous, reckless, and unlawful conduct.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird conveyed in a press release that “OpenAI claims ChatGPT is safe while it’s giving dangerous medical advice, encouraging people to hurt others, and coaching people to commit suicide—all while pretending to be their fake friend. My lawsuit is about protecting our kids and holding OpenAI accountable under our state law.”

This is not the first time that OpenAI has come under legal fire for ChatGPT’s supposed addictive, dangerous, and psychologically manipulative interface. In June of 2026, a mother sued the company and its CEO Sam Altman in California state court, alleging that ChatGPT encouraged her daughter’s suicide by failing to flag suicidal ideations or encourage her to get help. Similarly, in November of 2025, seven suits were filed against OpenAI asserting claims of wrongful death, assisted suicide, involuntary manslaughter and negligence.

OpenAI has since launched ChatGPT for Teens, an “experience designed to help teens learn, think critically, deepen understanding, and use AI with confidence.” The software claims to provide parental controls and built-in safety protections for users between ages 13-17. However, it has been criticized for falling short of the company’s promises. The interface purportedly fails to provide adequate crisis support, timely parental alerts, and useful studying sessions for teens.

The coalition of states is seeking court-ordered remedial measures in the form of injunctive relief, preventing OpenAI from continuing to engage in “unreasonably dangerous activities,” and protective orders compelling the corporation to implement effective safety protections for children and teens.