FTC Is Investigating OpenAI, Anthropic and Other AI Companies Over Product Risks
- Reference: 0185918634
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/10/01/1720206/ftc-is-investigating-openai-anthropic-and-other-ai-companies-over-product-risks
- Source link:
> OpenAI stunned the industry in July when it [2]disclosed that its agents broke out of a testing environment and hacked into open-source platform Hugging Face. [...] Earlier this month, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei rocked the tech sector by [3]urging AI companies to slow how quickly they improve their most advanced models and calling for stronger government oversight. He published a three-step proposal aimed at tempering the pace of development without "sacrificing commercial advantage or the United States' lead in AI."
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> CEO Jensen Huang, argued that individual companies should be responsible for ensuring the safety of their products. President Donald Trump convened top executives from Alphabet, Meta, SpaceX, Nvidia, Palantir, Anthropic, OpenAI and other companies on Tuesday to discuss the issue. The group [4]signed a short voluntary, nonbinding accord, which says that "every company is responsible for developing its own technology safely and in a way that builds trust with customers and the public."
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/30/ftc-ai-probe-openai-anthropic.html
[2] https://slashdot.org/story/26/09/24/0528251/rogue-openai-agent-tried-to-breach-government-site-in-may-when-prompted-for-simple-data-retrieving-tasks
[3] https://slashdot.org/story/26/09/12/1738240/anthropic-ceo-dario-amodei-calls-for-ai-slowdown
[4] https://politics.slashdot.org/story/26/09/30/0523201/trump-hosts-ai-ceos-to-discuss-safety-standards-rebrands-ai-as-super-intelligence
They Want This (Score:2)
They all want this to show off how "awesomely dangerous" their bullshit is. We all know the current administration is just going to OK it, and they'll all walk away with a slap on the wrist, while gaining millions in free advertising.
They shouted from roof tops (Score:2)
They all shouted from roof tops in unison, I don't know what their real motive was. But they definitely caught the attention of at least one unplanned, unintended entity so far. All the best!
Re: They shouted from roof tops (Score:2)
> unplanned, unintended
Yeah sure, I bet they are quaking in their boots at an investigation by Trump's FTC. He just had them all over for dinner on the taxpayer's dime. The biggest risk for them is having to buy a gold statue to make this go away.
Re: (Score:2)
Actually two. The EU is just more quiet about its investigations.
Didnt the Great Pumpkin declare it was called SI? (Score:2)
Prepare for a new head of the FTC.
Why the FTC? We're talking about weapons here. (Score:2)
Why is the FTC being directed to do the investigation? They're supposed to focus on anti-trust and consumer protection.
The risk is the use of AI as a weapon. The FTC doesn't investigate that type of risk.
Re: (Score:2)
> Why is the FTC being directed to do the investigation? They're supposed to focus on anti-trust and consumer protection.
Are you seriously saying you don't see any need for consumer protection laws regarding AI services, or is this some kind of confused face trolling like a virtual Tucker Carlson?
Re: (Score:2)
>> Why is the FTC being directed to do the investigation? They're supposed to focus on anti-trust and consumer protection.
> Are you seriously saying you don't see any need for consumer protection laws regarding AI services, or is this some kind of confused face trolling like a virtual Tucker Carlson?
No not at all but the FCC is not the straw pumpkin to be leading the way. This should be FBI/NSA led and criminal in nature. The other folks are correct though, it's all hype and talk, our Orange President is all for AI and he couldn't care less who else gets hurt in the pursuit.
Re: (Score:2)
@%#&^@ FTC not FCC..sigh Today is my birthday, I'm really old and beginning to feel it...
Re: (Score:2)
> No not at all but the FCC is not the straw pumpkin to be leading the way. This should be FBI/NSA led and criminal in nature.
We could arguably do both things at once, and should... but won't do one of them at all.
Re: (Score:2)
Funny you should mention weaponization. There is a plan for that.
Pete Hegseth just appointed Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to head up the DoD's Project Meridian:
"identifying the capabilities required to achieve absolute technological dominance on the next-generation battlefield" ,
"how the US military can utilize new technology and also carry out warfare in untested terrains including subterranean depths and on the moon" ,
"artificial intelligence, autonomy, directed energy, robotics, biotechnology, among othe
It's all manipulation. (Score:3)
The AI companies want to slow down because they've got a decent product and the bills are coming due. The "omg our AI escaped the sandbox" started as PR, then they talked about slowing down, then Trump said 'nah, China', then they doubled down on the "escaped the sandbox". This is the Trump administration responding with a stronger "nah".
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but giving your LLM internet access and telling it to only use it for packages is not a sandbox.
Re: (Score:2)
Not only that, if heavily regulated, then it will effectively kick down the ladder, and only allow currently the largest AI companies to survive, and new comers will have a harder time with entry into the market/industry.
It will be quashed. (Score:2)
Don't have to be a profit^w prophet to see that coming.
Re: (Score:2)
Did the FTC miss the oval office meeting the other day?
AI companies are the new oil. Hands off the Super Intelligence.
Way to read the room, FTC.
Re: It will be quashed. (Score:2)
Or it is a play to place corporations under central government control, basically corporate statism. Such a system typically buys billionaires a seat at the table. Considering that table is of the most powerful and economically significant government in human history, that is likely a very interesting arrangement for the billionaire class.