Consumer Product Safety Commission Turns to AI for Proactive Oversight

Attorneys at Morrison Foerster report that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is undertaking a strategic shift toward integrating artificial intelligence into its oversight of consumer product safety. 

Traditionally dependent on consumer complaints and company reports, the CPSC now plans to use predictive analytics and machine learning to detect hazards before they reach the market. The agency intends to analyze data from sources such as social media, online reviews, and import records to anticipate risks rather than react to them.

The Commission has cited the increasing complexity of global supply chains as a major factor driving this move. By incorporating generative AI systems that evolve and refine their analysis over time, the CPSC aims to prioritize higher-risk products and streamline enforcement. 

However, Morrison Foerster’s analysis highlights significant challenges. Because social media data can contain misinformation and bot-generated content, the reliability of AI-driven signals remains uncertain, raising the risk of false positives and unwarranted investigations.

For companies, this shift means CPSC inquiries may occur earlier in the product life cycle and originate from nontraditional data sources. Businesses will need to maintain thorough documentation and consistent communication with regulators to mitigate the risk of misinterpretation. 

The authors note that the Consumer Product Safety Commission is also operating under institutional strain: President Trump recently removed three commissioners, and another resigned, leaving only Acting Chairman Peter Feldman in charge. While the exact implementation of AI oversight remains unclear, Morrison Foerster concludes that regulatory scrutiny is poised to become more proactive, data-driven, and unpredictable in the near term.