OpenAI LLC was unable to immediately resolve a defamation lawsuit filed by a Georgia-based conservative radio host. The radio host, Mark Walters of Armed America Radio, claimed that ChatGPT, OpenAI’s AI chatbot, made false allegations that he had embezzled funds from a gun-rights organization.
ChatGPT is a conversational AI application developed by OpenAI, capable of generating text-based on user input. As part of the output, the AI chatbot in question is said to have produced the text of a fictitious legal complaint, alleging that Walters had embezzled money from the Second Amendment Foundation. Walters maintains that he has never been involved in such illegal activities nor has he ever been associated with the named organization.
These accusations were reportedly given to Fred Riehl, editor of a gun-related publication, who was utilizing the chatbot to conduct research into a real-life legal case. Riehl purportedly forwarded the fabricated legal complaint to Walters.
According to reports, OpenAI had previously attempted to move the case to federal court but had the case returned to the state level when they declined to clarify their company’s membership structure.
OpenAI has outlined a series of disclaimers and warnings about its content, insisting that users should verify and bear ultimate responsibility for any content they decide to publish. They further contended that no defamation took place as Riehl had input particular content parameters into the chatbot, and in his transcript with ChatGPT, identify that he comprehended the information he solicited was false.
However, Walters refuted these arguments, stating that it could not be definitively proven that Riehl didn’t believe the veracity of the chatbot’s statements. The exceptional nature of this lawsuit against a generative AI product could set a significant precedent, particularly as ChatGPT and similar AI technologies are known for occasionally outputting false data, termed as “hallucinations.”
The lawsuit, Walters v. OpenAI LLC, continues to move forward, with John Monroe Law PC serving as Walters’ representation and DLA Piper LLP representing OpenAI.