Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a first-of-its-kind state lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing the company of endangering children and misleading the public about the safety of its ChatGPT chatbot. The 83-page complaint, announced on Monday, alleges that OpenAI prioritized profit over user protection, ignoring repeated internal and external safety warnings while racing to dominate the artificial intelligence market.
The lawsuit claims that ChatGPT contributed to a range of serious harms including self-harm, violence, addiction, cognitive decline and misinformation. It specifically ties the chatbot to the mass shooting at Florida State University, revealing that the attacker consulted ChatGPT about firearms, ammunition and campus locations before the rampage. The complaint also references the suicide of a teenager who discussed methods with the AI and other criminal cases where suspects allegedly used the tool to plan kidnappings, murders and child exploitation.
“Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the AI race over the safety and security of our kids,” Uthmeier said during a press conference, adding that investigators found ChatGPT was involved in multiple violent incidents. “It’s clearly not safe.”
The legal action marks a significant escalation in state-level efforts to hold AI companies accountable. Florida seeks damages, court-ordered platform changes and personal liability against Altman. The attorney general’s office had opened a criminal investigation into OpenAI in April, citing the chatbot’s potential role in facilitating crimes.
This lawsuit adds to mounting pressure on OpenAI, which is already facing civil suits from victims’ families and former co-founder Elon Musk. In May, the company updated ChatGPT with improved detection of suicide and violence indicators, but critics argue such measures are insufficient. The outcome could set a precedent for product liability in AI, influencing future regulation and corporate safety practices.
OpenAI has previously denied responsibility, stating that “ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime.” The company has not yet issued a comment on the Florida lawsuit.
