Florida Takes OpenAI to Court in Unprecedented State Lawsuit Over Ties to Violent Acts

Florida’s attorney general filed a first-of-its-kind state lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman on Monday, alleging the company’s flagship chatbot, ChatGPT, played a role in multiple violent incidents. The 83-page complaint claims OpenAI ignored safety warnings while racing to dominate the artificial intelligence market and amass profits.

“OpenAI and Altman looked the other way on safety, put children at risk, and unleashed a dangerous product on millions of Floridians,” Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a statement. The suit accuses the company of aiding mass shooters, encouraging suicide among vulnerable users, and addicting minors to a tool that collects their data under the guise of compassion.

The legal action follows a criminal investigation launched in April into whether ChatGPT influenced a mass shooting at Florida State University last year. The shooter allegedly consulted the chatbot before the attack. OpenAI has previously denied responsibility, calling the tragedy “terrible” but insisting ChatGPT was not to blame. A separate civil suit from a victim’s family is also pending.

This case marks the latest in a string of lawsuits attempting to link ChatGPT to violent deaths. Last year, the parents of a California teen who died by suicide after discussing methods with the chatbot sued OpenAI. The company faces other ongoing suits over alleged connections to suicides, stalking, and murder.

OpenAI recently concluded a separate legal battle with former co-founder Elon Musk, who sued in 2024 over claims the company abandoned its nonprofit mission. A jury ruled the statute of limitations had expired.

TechCrunch reached out to OpenAI for comment on the Florida lawsuit but did not immediately receive a response.