FTC's AI Safety Probe Names 2 Firms: OpenAI and Anthropic

The Federal Trade Commission has opened a broad investigation into the safety of artificial intelligence systems, naming Anthropic and OpenAI among the companies under review, a source familiar with the matter told ABC News on Wednesday. The agency has not issued a public statement confirming the inquiry, and ABC News described the story as developing as of its initial report.

What Does the FTC's Investigation Cover?

The source told ABC News only that the probe concerns the safety of AI systems, without specifying which products, practices, or potential harms the commission is examining. No formal FTC announcement, press release, or docket number has been made public. That leaves the scope, legal basis, and timeline of the investigation undefined for now, and ABC News has said it will update its report as more details emerge.

Which AI Companies Are Under Review?

Anthropic and OpenAI are the two companies named in the ABC News report, both cited by the source as included in the probe. The wording used by ABC News, that the investigation covers AI safety "including Anthropic and OpenAI," suggests the list of companies involved may not be limited to those two, though no additional names have been confirmed publicly.

Have the FTC, OpenAI, or Anthropic Commented?

As of the ABC News report, the FTC has not commented on the record, and the story is sourced to an unnamed individual described as familiar with the investigations. Neither OpenAI nor Anthropic is quoted responding to the report. Both companies build widely used consumer and enterprise AI products, including chatbots and developer tools, that have drawn scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers over the past several years as generative AI systems reached mass adoption.

What Is Still Unknown?

ABC News has not reported whether the FTC has issued subpoenas, civil investigative demands, or other formal legal instruments as part of the probe. It is also unclear which statutory authority the commission is relying on, whether the inquiry targets specific safety incidents or broader industry practices, or what timeline the FTC expects for any findings. The outlet flagged the piece as a developing story, meaning these details may surface in follow-up reporting.

What Happens Next?

For now, the confirmation of an FTC probe into AI safety marks the extent of what has been verified. Companies under federal investigation typically do not comment until an agency makes a formal announcement or issues a public filing, and neither OpenAI nor Anthropic has done so in connection with this report. Readers tracking how AI companies are evolving their consumer-facing products can find related coverage in HTT News's report on Meta's new AI-focused subscription plans, part of a broader wave of commercial AI rollouts that has coincided with growing regulatory attention. HTT News will update this report if the FTC, OpenAI, or Anthropic issue public statements confirming the scope of the investigation.

Artiglio is A coming-soon iPhone chief of staff for briefings and drafts. Not on the App Store yet.