In a landmark legal move, Florida has become the first state in the United States to file a lawsuit against AI powerhouse OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. The lawsuit, filed in Florida state court by Attorney General James Uthmeier, accuses the company of misrepresenting the safety of its ChatGPT platform, alleging that the technology has caused significant harm to children.
According to the filing, the state contends that ChatGPT has provided dangerous information to school shooters, offered guidance on self-harm, and created addictive experiences for young users. Attorney General Uthmeier specifically named Sam Altman in the suit, stating that the CEO was central to promoting features that the state identifies as the most harmful.
The legal action follows a series of tragic events, including a mass shooting at a Tallahassee university in 2025. Uthmeier revealed that in April of this year, he launched a criminal investigation into the role ChatGPT may have played in that specific attack after reviewing chat logs between the alleged shooter and the AI program.
"People are getting hurt, parents are getting deceived, and they need to pay for it," Uthmeier told reporters during a press conference, emphasizing the state's commitment to protecting its youngest residents.
The lawsuit seeks damages totaling billions of dollars and calls for a court order that would mandate OpenAI to fundamentally change how its AI interacts with young users to ensure greater safety and oversight.
In response to such allegations, OpenAI has maintained that its models are trained to refuse requests that could meaningfully enable violence. The company stated it notifies law enforcement when conversations suggest an imminent and credible risk of harm, utilizing mental health experts to evaluate borderline cases.
This case is part of a growing global wave of litigation against AI firms. OpenAI is currently facing separate lawsuits from the family of a victim in the Florida State University shooting, as well as legal action in Canada. In the Canadian cases, victims' families allege that the company failed to warn police despite having information months prior that a shooter was planning an attack using the platform.
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Florida becomes first US state to sue OpenAI over child safety risks
cgtn.com
