Florida has become the first state in the United States to take legal action against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company of failing to adequately safeguard users of its ChatGPT chatbot.
The lawsuit, filed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, alleges that OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, have contributed to harmful behaviour among users, including children, while prioritising commercial growth over public safety.
According to the complaint, ChatGPT has allegedly played a role in encouraging addictive behaviour among minors, assisting individuals involved in violent crimes, and influencing vulnerable users toward self-harm.
The legal challenge comes as Florida authorities are also conducting a criminal investigation into whether ChatGPT had any connection to a deadly shooting at Florida State University last year.
In addition to targeting OpenAI, the lawsuit seeks to hold Altman personally accountable for what it describes as “reckless and wilful conduct,” alleging that he demonstrated an “utter disregard for the risk to human life caused by his firms’ conduct.”
The suit accuses the company of several violations, including negligence, deceptive and unfair trade practices, product liability breaches, fraudulent misrepresentation, and creating a public nuisance.
Among the incidents cited are the Florida State University shooting and the deaths of two doctoral students at the University of South Florida. Prosecutors claim the suspect in the latter case used ChatGPT to seek information about disposing of human bodies.
“Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the AI race over the safety and security of our kids. They have chosen profit over public safety, and we’re not going to stand for it in here in Florida. So we will hold them accountable,” Uthmeier said at a press conference on Monday.
Responding to the lawsuit, OpenAI expressed sympathy for families affected by such tragedies.
“Losing a child is the most devastating tragedy that can happen to a family and we know that no words can come close to addressing the pain of such a loss.
“AI is a new and powerful technology, and we believe minors need significant protection, which is why we have put in place industry leading protections and policies.”
The company noted that it has introduced several safety measures aimed at protecting younger users, including age-detection systems and parental monitoring tools.
“We know pointing to this work will not bring a child back, but we’re committed to getting this right,” an OpenAI spokesperson said.
The Florida case adds to a growing list of legal challenges facing OpenAI over its safety practices. Several lawsuits have alleged that ChatGPT contributed to harmful delusions and encouraged suicidal behaviour.
OpenAI is also facing litigation in Canada, where families of victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting have filed claims against the company.
OpenAI previously disabled the suspect’s ChatGPT account due to concerning activity but did not notify law enforcement authorities.
While the company apologised for not alerting police, it maintained that the user’s activity did not meet the threshold of a credible or imminent threat of serious physical harm.
The scrutiny of AI firms comes amid broader legal battles involving major technology companies.
Earlier this year, the father of a Florida man filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that its AI chatbot contributed to a psychological crisis that ultimately led to his son’s suicide.
Social media platforms, including Meta-owned Instagram, Snap, TikTok and YouTube, are also facing numerous lawsuits accusing them of deliberately designing addictive products.
In March, Meta and Google were found liable in a case brought by a 20-year-old plaintiff who argued that the companies intentionally created addictive platform features.
The ruling marked a significant development in the ongoing debate over tech accountability.
While technology firms have traditionally argued that they are not responsible for content generated by users, courts are increasingly examining whether product design decisions can make companies legally liable.
Uthmeier and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have also clashed with AI companies over regulation.
Florida has opposed efforts by the administration of US President Donald Trump to limit state-level AI oversight and recently proposed an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” aimed at enhancing data privacy protections and reducing the potential negative impacts of data centre operations on residents.
