Eight States Sue OpenAI Over ChatGPT and Minors: What Is Alleged

State attorneys general filed lawsuits against OpenAI

Published: October 14, 2026

On October 14, 2026, attorneys general in eight states filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI over ChatGPT and minors. Reports name Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia. Details differ across outlets. We read the Arizona attorney general’s announcement and a report in The Star based on Arizona Daily Star and Tribune News Service coverage. Florida sued OpenAI separately in June.

What Arizona alleges

The state filed in Maricopa County Superior Court. It alleges OpenAI violated the state’s consumer fraud law through deceptive design and marketing. Among the claims:

• ChatGPT was designed to be agreeable and to mimic human compassion, which drives compulsive use by minors.
• OpenAI did not disclose risks such as weakened critical thinking, reinforced paranoid or delusional thinking, and unlicensed medical guidance.
• Some outputs were interpreted by users as encouraging self-harm or violence.

Attorney General Kris Mayes said OpenAI “designed a product to attract young users and keep them engaged for as long as possible.”

OpenAI’s response

Reports say an OpenAI spokesperson said no system can be perfect and that the company would build on existing parental controls, break reminders and age-appropriate protections.

What this does and does not show

These are allegations in complaints. No court has made findings. The suits do not show that ChatGPT causes addiction or harm in general, and we found no ruling on any of them.

What readers can do

• Parents: talk with your teen about what they ask a chatbot and how they feel afterward.
• Teens and adults: if a chatbot has told you to hurt yourself or others, do not follow it, and tell someone you trust.
• Notice sleep, mood, school and time with friends.
• Adults who feel their ChatGPT use is hard to manage can try the self-check below.

If you need support

If you or someone you know is in distress, call or text 988 (US), text HOME to 741741 for Crisis Text Line, or call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357. In an emergency, call 911.

Has a court found that ChatGPT harms minors?

No. The lawsuits were filed on October 14, 2026 and contain allegations. We found no court findings.

Do these lawsuits mean ChatGPT is addictive?

No. The states allege the product was designed to encourage compulsive use by minors. That is a legal claim that OpenAI has not been found liable for, and it is not a clinical finding.

This page is for education only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan.