Man Sues OpenAI for Defamation Over Chatbot’s Accusation of Embezzlement

A radio host in Georgia is suing OpenAI after an AI-powered chatbot claimed he had embezzled money from a gun rights nonprofit called The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). The defamation lawsuit, which could be the first of its kind, was initiated by Mark Walters, who alleges that OpenAI’s ChatGPT service damaged his reputation by falsely implicating him in an embezzlement case involving the SAF. Walters’ lawyer, John Monroe, argues that companies that use such flawed AI should be held accountable for any misinformation it produces. Researchers warn that such models can generate false information that can cause harm if unleashed on the public. The success of this lawsuit could set a precedent for holding AI systems and their developers liable for misinformation they generate.