Florida sues OpenAI over ChatGPT, points to 2 deadly shootings
The personal X account of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is displayed on a mobile phone with ChatGPT in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The state of Florida accused one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence firms of foisting its popular chat tool onto the public without warning them about the potential dangers and filed a lawsuit against the company.
What they're saying:
"Today, we announced the first-in-the-nation state-led lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman," Uthmeier said. "OpenAI and Altman ignored internal and external safety warnings, put children at great risk, and allowed a dangerous product to reach millions of Floridians."
The backstory:
The lawsuit cited two shootings where the accused perpetrators reportedly consulted with ChatGPT while plotting their attacks.
In April, Uthmeier’s office launched an investigation into whether the AI tool offered advice to the person who killed two people and injured six more in a shooting last year at Florida State University.
Prosecutors in another case alleged the man charged with killing two University of South Florida doctoral students asked ChatGPT what would happen if a human body was put into a garbage bag and thrown into a dumpster.
The other side:
OpenAI stated that ChatGPT directed the individuals to get support, including from mental health professionals. The company also noted that it cooperated with law enforcement in both instances.
What they're saying:
"ChatGPT is a general-purpose tool used by hundreds of millions of people every day for legitimate purposes," an OpenAI statement said. "We work continuously to strengthen our safeguards to detect harmful intent, limit misuse, and respond appropriately when safety risks arise."
Dig deeper:
Florida’s lawsuit claims ChatGPT facilitates and encourages harm, including self-harm and violence, while offering assurances that using the product is safe. It also accused OpenAI of collecting data from minors without meaningful oversight by their parents, while creating a behavioral addiction and hiding dangerous errors.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.