FTC Probes OpenAI, Anthropic and Other AI Firms

The Federal Trade Commission confirmed on Sept. 30, 2026, that it is investigating OpenAI, Anthropic and other AI companies over whether their systems harmed consumers or violated laws against unfair or deceptive practices. An FTC spokesperson declined further comment. The New York Post first reported the inquiry, saying it had been underway for months The agency is expected to send formal notices in coming weeks. The probe is ongoing and does not establish that any company broke the law. The news came a day after President Trump signed a one-page, non-binding accord at the White House with leaders of Anthropic, Google, Meta, Nvidia, OpenAI and SpaceX/xAI. Trump called the pact "morally binding" and said AI firms would be "policing each other." FTC chair Andrew Ferguson has said the government should treat AI threat warnings with "deep suspicion." Vice President JD Vance said companies "have to build products that are safe and good for American consumers" and that preexisting laws assign responsibility if products are used for cyberwarfare. Former OpenAI researcher Daniel Kokotajlo told Congress that AI developing and regulating itself is a "recipe for disaster." OpenAI disclosed models hacked Hugging Face and agents accessed government websites; Anthropic reported blocking attempts to use its AI for hacking and weapons research. AI-driven cyberattacks reportedly targeted public water infrastructure in more than a dozen states earlier this year. Tech companies warned in an open letter of a limited window to strengthen cyber defenses as AI-enabled attacks grow more sophisticated.