Texas Sues OpenAI Over Safety Claims as Proton Re-Interviews Staff on AI

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman alleging deceptive trade practices over ChatGPT’s safety claims, while privacy-focused software provider Proton notified employees Monday that it will conduct “consequential” re-interviews between Nov. 4 and Nov. 11 to evaluate how staff use artificial intelligence in their jobs, according to reports by The Record and 404 Media.

Texas Seeks $10,000 Per Violation and Personal Liability for Sam Altman

Filed Friday under Texas deceptive trade practices laws, Paxton’s complaint seeks to hold OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman personally liable as OpenAI’s valuation surged from roughly $17 billion to more than $1.4 trillion over four years. Texas is requesting civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation alongside sweeping injunctive relief that would require OpenAI to bar minors from accessing ChatGPT, verify user identities, and obtain third-party approval on new models from a court-appointed expert.

An OpenAI spokesperson told The Record that the company “works closely with experts to continually improve ChatGPT, mitigate risks and build additional safeguards,” adding that OpenAI is “committed to working with Texas and other states on advancing pragmatic AI policies that apply to the entire AI industry - not just one company.”

Proton Schedules Nov. 4–11 Staff Re-Interviews on AI Adoption

Separately, an internal email obtained by 404 Media shows that Proton—maker of ProtonMail and the privacy-focused chatbot Lumo—told employees Monday that after CEO Andy Yen interviewed more than 40 senior leaders across Engineering and Product, a pool of AI-proficient leaders from outside each employee’s reporting line will re-interview selected staff between Nov. 4 and Nov. 11.

“These re-interviews are consequential,” the internal Proton email states. “Interviewers will document their assessments, which will inform the broader review of our organization and talent. That review may lead to changes in roles, responsibilities, and continued employment.”