Chat GPT: United States regulator launches probe over “bad content”

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating OpenAI to determine if its hugely popular ChatGPT app harms consumers by generating false information and whether its technology mishandles user data.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI was notified of the investigation in a 20-page questionnaire in which the company is asked to describe incidents in which users were falsely disparaged, and share any company efforts to ensure this does not happen again.

In November of 2022, the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI stunned the world as it displayed the power of large language models, a form of artificial intelligence known as generative AI that can churn out human-like content in just seconds.

Amid the marvel at the technology’s capacities, reports came in that the models could also churn out offensive, false or just strange content, sometimes called “hallucinations”.

The FTC’s investigation is mainly focused on how this aspect could harm users, according to the questionnaire, but also delves into OpenAI’s use of private data to build its world-leading model.

An FTC probe does not necessarily bring further action and the regulator can close the case if it is satisfied by the target company’s answer. But if the FTC perceives illegal or unsafe practices, it will demand remedial action and possibly launch a lawsuit in court.