The State of Florida has filed a civil lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, becoming the first state to bring such an action against the artificial intelligence company. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the suit Monday, alleging that OpenAI knowingly marketed ChatGPT to the public while concealing serious risks to users.
Uthmeier said the company suppressed internal safety warnings and deceived users about the product’s true nature and dangers.
The civil complaint, filed in Florida circuit court, references two separate shootings in which the alleged gunmen were reported to have used ChatGPT while planning their crimes — including a 2025 attack at Florida State University that killed two people and wounded six others, and the killings of two University of South Florida doctoral students.
OpenAI responded that its models repeatedly encouraged both individuals to seek real-world support, including from mental health professionals, and that the company cooperated with law enforcement in both cases. “ChatGPT is a general-purpose tool used by hundreds of millions of people every day for legitimate purposes,” the company said in a statement, adding that it works continuously to strengthen safeguards against misuse.
The lawsuit alleges OpenAI and Altman prioritized speed to market and commercial gain over user safety, disregarding repeated warnings from experts both inside and outside the company. It further claims ChatGPT collects data from minors without meaningful parental oversight, causes behavioral addiction and cognitive harm, and facilitates self-harm and violence while falsely assuring users the product is safe.
Florida officials said state law prohibits unfair and deceptive trade practices and that the complaint seeks accountability for what they describe as ongoing harm to Florida residents. OpenAI has not indicated whether it plans to contest the suit.
Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Google, & X
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun: local St. Pete-Clearwater news at PIE-Sun.com
