Four paid subscribers of popular AI chatbots have filed a class-action lawsuit against Anthropic, OpenAI, xAI, and Google in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The plaintiffs allege that these companies engaged in an illegal antitrust conspiracy to stifle competition.
The lawsuit centers on events from September 12, 2026, when Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay advocating for a voluntary slowdown in AI development for safety reasons. The plaintiffs claim that leaders from OpenAI, xAI, and Google DeepMind coordinated their support for this initiative on the same day.
The legal complaint argues that these collective actions negatively impact consumers by reducing the value of paid services. The plaintiffs contend that while individual companies may choose to slow development, coordinated efforts among industry leaders violate antitrust laws.
The legal team for the plaintiffs, led by attorney Nick Rowley, argues that private agreements between powerful corporations should not dictate AI safety protocols. The lawsuit does not oppose companies seeking federal regulation or government-approved coordination in the industry.
President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to the voluntary slowdown of AI development, citing concerns over national competitiveness against China. The administration has announced plans to establish a national AI force led by a dedicated official.
