Attorney General Marshall Launches Investigation Into OpenAI and Sam Altman for Massive Artificial Intelligence Data Breach

For Immediate Release:
August 24, 2026

For press inquiries only, contact:
Amanda Priest (334) 322-5694
William Califf (334) 604-3230

(Montgomery, Ala) – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the issuance of a subpoena demanding that OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, respond to an investigation into the company’s complete lack of oversight and adequate safeguards in the hacking of Hugging Face, another artificial intelligence (AI) company. The investigation comes after Alabama was part of a multi-state coalition letter sent earlier in the month to OpenAI demanding transparency and accountability.

In July, OpenAI unleashed an experimental artificial intelligence model that, without reasonable controls or oversight, gained unauthorized access to several computer networks, which culminated in a days-long hack on another AI company. Alabama’s subsequent investigation seeks to address whether OpenAI’s inability or unwillingness to ensure the safety of its products violated Alabama’s consumer protection laws and poses an ongoing risk of substantial harm to the citizens of the state. 

“This AI lab leak showed that Alabamians’ and Americans’ worst fears about artificial intelligence are not just theoretical. Our investigation seeks to uncover the facts and address hard truths about the threats companies and consumers are facing from rogue AI,” Attorney General Steve Marshall said. “Ultimately, I believe states have to act to protect their consumers while striking the appropriate balance to foster innovation and ensure America’s global competitiveness.”