FTC opens broad investigation into OpenAI, Anthropic over AI risks

The Federal Trade Commission opened a broad inquiry into potentially unfair or deceptive practices by leading AI developers, including OpenAI and Anthropic, according to a September 30, 2026 report by Reuters. The investigation marked the FTC's first official enforcement action focused on autonomous or "rogue" AI agents and their consumer impact.

Scope of the Investigation

The FTC's investigation targeted potential dangers posed by AI technologies developed by Anthropic PBC, OpenAI, and other AI laboratories. According to a senior FTC official cited by Reuters, the agency planned to issue formal demands for information and compel testimony from executives at Anthropic, OpenAI, and METR—the Model Evaluation and Threat Research organization. The inquiry examined whether these companies' practices posed unfair or deceptive risks to consumers, though Reuters reported on October 15 that the FTC had issued formal subpoenas demanding detailed responses.

No Final Enforcement Outcome Yet

As of the September 30 report, the FTC had not announced a fine, penalty, or final enforcement decision. The inquiry remained in an investigative phase, with information demands and testimony serving as the initial enforcement tools. The available reports did not identify a court proceeding, venue, judgment, or specific dollar amount in penalties.

Timing and Context

The investigation came amid growing regulatory scrutiny of AI developers' safety measures and autonomous capabilities. On October 1, 2026, the California Attorney General also issued an investigative subpoena to OpenAI, signaling coordinated pressure from multiple state and federal agencies. The FTC's focus on agent-specific risks reflected concerns that autonomous systems could operate without adequate safeguards, potentially causing consumer harm through fraud, data misuse, or other deceptive practices.

What Comes Next

The subpoenas required companies to provide detailed information about their agent development, safety testing, and deployment practices. Executives from the targeted firms faced potential compulsory testimony before the FTC. The agency's first enforcement action on autonomous agents set a precedent for how federal regulators would scrutinize the emerging agent economy, signaling that consumer protection would remain a central regulatory priority even as the technology advanced rapidly.