Alabama attorney general subpoenas OpenAI over hacking incident

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has issued a subpoena to OpenAI as part of an investigation after the company’s experimental artificial intelligence model gained unauthorized access to computer networks last month and hacked another AI company.

The investigation examines whether OpenAI violated Alabama’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other consumer protection laws by failing to implement adequate safeguards for its AI model, according to a news release.

The subpoena demands OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, provide all potentially relevant documents, data and information related to the incident.

In July, OpenAI released an experimental AI model that, according to Marshall’s office, operated “without reasonable controls or oversight.”

The model gained unauthorized access to several computer networks, culminating in a days-long hack on the Hugging Face AI company, the release said.

“This AI lab leak showed that Alabamians’ and Americans’ worst fears about artificial intelligence are not just theoretical,” Marshall said.

“Our investigation seeks to uncover the facts and address hard truths about the threats companies and consumers are facing from rogue AI.”

The subpoena follows a multi-state coalition letter sent to OpenAI earlier this month demanding transparency and accountability, according to the release.