The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has opened an industry-wide investigation into major artificial intelligence companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, over potential consumer risks linked to increasingly autonomous AI agents.

According to a senior FTC official cited by Reuters, the agency plans to issue formal demands for information and compel testimony from executives at leading AI developers and research organizations. The investigation is the first U.S. enforcement action specifically focused on the emerging risks surrounding rogue AI agents.

The investigation follows several recent incidents involving AI systems interacting with external computer systems and identifying cybersecurity vulnerabilities. OpenAI and Anthropic have reported incidents involving their AI agents, while other technology companies have also disclosed autonomous-agent security concerns.

The FTC has authority to investigate unfair or deceptive business practices and has previously used its powers in cases involving inadequate consumer data security. The agency is examining whether existing laws can address potential harms created by advanced AI systems.

The probe comes just days after President Donald Trump met with leading technology executives, with companies agreeing to establish voluntary AI safety standards. The developments add another layer to the growing U.S. debate over AI innovation, cybersecurity and oversight.

For the technology industry, the FTC investigation could provide an early indication of how U.S. regulators may approach autonomous AI agents as they become more capable of independently performing complex tasks.