FTC moves to issue subpoenas to leading AI firms amid safety concerns

The Federal Trade Commission is on the verge of dispatching formal investigative demands to several frontier AI companies, underscoring a growing safety investigation. According to a senior agency official, the requests will contain dozens of questions about the firms’ statements on product risks and potential consumer harm, reflecting public-health concerns. This public announcement is unusual, as the FTC typically keeps investigations confidential until legal action is contemplated.

The disclosure comes shortly after FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson joined President Donald Trump's AI task force and announced a non-binding industry self-regulation accord. Career attorneys in the Bureau of Consumer Protection are preparing the demands, and the inquiry may also encompass the independent AI evaluator METR. While some observers question the probe’s depth, former FTC chair Lina Khan expressed doubt about its seriousness, and former Republican chair William Kovacic noted that publicizing the investigation signals a genuine focus on the issue.