OpenAI and Microsoft are facing a class-action lawsuit in California federal court, alleging that they illegally obtained “vast amounts of private information” from internet users without their consent. The lawsuit seeks $3 billion in damages and involves sixteen unnamed plaintiffs.
According to the complaint, OpenAI collected approximately 300 billion words from the internet without registering as a data broker or obtaining permission. The lawsuit claims that the companies used this “stolen private information, including personally identifiable information,” to train their AI language model, ChatGPT, without informed consent or knowledge from the users.
Microsoft, as OpenAI’s major customer and business partner, has been paying billions of dollars to license AI technologies from the company. The complaint alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft continued to unlawfully collect and use personal data from unsuspecting consumers to develop and train their products.
The case specifically mentions popular AI technologies developed by OpenAI and utilized by Microsoft, such as the language models GPT 3.5 and 4.0, the image model Dall-E, and the text-to-speech model Vall-E.
The data allegedly stolen by OpenAI includes names, contact information (phone numbers and email addresses), payment information, social media information, chat log data, usage data, analytics, and cookies. The lawsuit argues that the defendants have been unjustly enriched by their theft of personal information, building a billion-dollar AI business on the monetization of user data.
The complaint demands that OpenAI and Microsoft adopt additional measures to protect user privacy. These measures include transparency in data gathering and utilization, adherence to moral standards, compensation for the stolen data, the option for users to refuse data collection, and an end to any unlawful data collection practices.
Furthermore, the complaint highlights the potential “existential threat” posed by AI if not constrained by legal intervention. It references recent calls for action by prominent figures who have urged the control or regulation of AI systems. The complaint argues that enforcing the law will ensure a safe and just future for AI innovation.
As of now, neither Microsoft nor OpenAI has responded to the lawsuit. It remains unclear how the court will proceed with the case and whether it will permit the legal processes to proceed.
In conclusion, OpenAI and Microsoft are facing a class-action lawsuit alleging the unauthorized collection and use of personal information from internet users. The lawsuit seeks significant damages and demands additional measures to protect privacy. The case raises ethical and legal questions surrounding AI and its impact on user data. The response from both companies and the court’s decision will determine the outcome of this legal battle.