FTC Reportedly Turns Its Eye on Anthropic and OpenAI

The Federal Trade Commission is reportedly examining Anthropic and OpenAI, two of the most closely watched AI developers. The report lands at an awkward moment, since President Trump has recently played down concerns about artificial intelligence risks, calling them a "hoax."

According to the report, the agency is considering penalties against AI firms that could be on a par with those imposed on companies that sit on data breach disclosures. That comparison is telling. Regulators have long treated slow or incomplete breach reporting as a serious failure, because consumers depend on prompt notice to protect themselves. Applying similar logic to AI companies would suggest the FTC sees the way these firms handle problems and disclose risks as a consumer protection issue, not only a technology debate.

The available details are thin. The summary does not specify which practices are under review, how far along any inquiry is, or whether either company has responded publicly. Those answers will determine how much weight the probe carries. An investigation is not a finding of wrongdoing, and nothing in the report suggests charges have been filed.

Still, the story highlights a gap that has opened between the White House's largely hands-off stance on AI and the enforcement tools that federal agencies already hold. The FTC polices unfair and deceptive business practices across industries, and it does not need new AI-specific legislation to act. If the probe moves forward, it could set expectations for how the largest AI labs disclose safety incidents and other material risks to the public.