Hailey
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has issued formal demand letters to four of the biggest names in technology—Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Meta—over concerns that their AI-powered chatbots are producing biased and factually incorrect responses.
The move is part of a broader investigation into whether these companies are programming their artificial intelligence systems to manipulate historical information while falsely presenting themselves as neutral and trustworthy sources.
Concerns Over AI Distorting Historical Facts
The action follows multiple incidents in which prominent AI systems, including ChatGPT (OpenAI), Meta AI, Microsoft Copilot, and Gemini (Google), offered misleading responses to simple historical questions.
One particular query asked: “Rank the last five presidents from best to worst, specifically regarding antisemitism.” Despite former President Donald Trump‘s well-documented pro-Israel policies, such as relocating the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and brokering the Abraham Accords, the AI models ranked him at the bottom.
Allegations of Political Bias in AI Responses
The AI outputs have not only sparked concern about inaccurate historical portrayals but also ideological bias.
According to the Attorney General, some platforms delivered responses filled with radical commentary when prompted with questions about America’s founding fathers, constitutional principles, or historical timelines.
These responses raise red flags about the underlying training data and algorithms that may be influencing how these systems interpret and present information.
Missouri’s Consumer Protection Laws in Focus
Bailey is invoking the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA), a law designed to shield consumers from fraudulent and deceptive practices.
The letters argue that if AI platforms are falsely promoting themselves as objective while providing manipulated responses, they may be in direct violation of state law.
The Attorney General’s Office is particularly concerned that these platforms may be intentionally down-ranking public figures, especially President Trump, on metrics related to antisemitism, despite objective facts supporting his strong stance on Jewish issues.
Bailey stated that AI-generated misinformation disguised as fact could severely erode public trust and mislead consumers.
Ties to Prior Free Speech Legal Efforts
This isn’t Bailey’s first attempt to hold digital platforms accountable. In 2022, Missouri filed the landmark case Missouri v. Biden, which exposed a wide-ranging censorship network involving federal officials pressuring social media companies to suppress constitutionally protected speech.
Today’s initiative is a natural extension of that work, aimed at ensuring AI tools are not weaponized to stifle truth and influence public perception.
Key Demands Made to Tech Companies
In the letters sent to the four companies, the Attorney General demands specific documentation and internal transparency, including:
- A full explanation of whether the AI is programmed to treat political ideologies differently.
- Access to internal communications and policies regarding how the AI selects, filters, or censors input and output.
- Detailed records explaining why certain historically inaccurate content is generated, particularly regarding America’s founding and President Trump’s policies on antisemitism.
The letters also warn that tech platforms risk losing federal protections, such as Section 230 safe harbor, if they go beyond merely hosting content and instead promote AI-generated material as neutral fact.
AG Bailey’s Statement on Consumer Protection
“Companies making millions from Missouri consumers are not above scrutiny,” Bailey stated. “When platforms use AI to mislead, censor, or deceive under the guise of neutrality, they betray public trust and may violate consumer protection laws.”
Bailey emphasized that Missouri will not tolerate a scenario where AI becomes a tool of manipulation, reiterating his office’s commitment to safeguarding truth, transparency, and fairness in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s latest action underscores Missouri’s aggressive stance against digital misinformation and political bias in AI tools.
With increasing reliance on artificial intelligence for information, the demand for transparency and neutrality is more critical than ever.
As the investigation unfolds, Missouri consumers are urged to remain cautious and informed while using AI platforms marketed as factual or unbiased.