FTC demands testimony from Anthropic and OpenAI executives in AI probe

The Federal Trade Commission has demanded that executives from Anthropic and OpenAI testify in its ongoing probe into AI consumer harm. The request follows a 50-page civil investigation demand sent to both companies, covering security incidents, safeguards, marketing, and privacy. An FTC spokesperson confirmed that individuals at other AI companies have also received testimony demands, though specific names were not released. The timing of the demands is notable, as they were sent on the same day Anthropic filed for its initial public offering. OpenAI has stated it will not file for an IPO until next year.

Critics have raised concerns about Anthropic's marketing strategies, specifically accusations that the company profits from discovering security vulnerabilities that require expensive token usage to fix. This practice effectively charges companies twice for discovery and patching. The probe is viewed as tense for Anthropic given its concurrent IPO filing, with observers questioning the legitimacy of its security vulnerability marketing tactics. The FTC's intervention highlights growing regulatory attention to the business models and safety practices of major AI developers.