Florida don become di first US state to sue OpenAI and dia CEO Sam Altman over di design and safety of ChatGPT. Di Attorney General James Uthmeier bring di case on Monday, accusing di company of putting profit before safety and endangering children.
Di lawsuit say OpenAI dey addict children, help mass shooters, and even push users to suicide. Uthmeier tok say “Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen di AI race over safety and security of our kids. Dem choose profit over public safety, and we no go stand for am here for Florida.”
Di complaint get multiple allegations like deceptive trade practices, negligence, violating product liability laws, fraudulent misrepresentation, and causing public nuisance. Dem cite di Florida State University mass shooting and di killing of two University of South Florida doctoral students, where di suspect allegedly ask ChatGPT about how to dispose human bodies.
OpenAI respond say dem don put “industry leading protections and policies” for place. Dem talk say dem build safety for minors into dia products, like age detection tools and ways for parents to monitor dia children use of AI. Dem say “we know pointing to dis work no go bring a child back, but we dey committed to getting dis right.”
Di civil case dey separate from a criminal investigation wey Uthmeier open for April, wey still dey go. Di suit dey seek penalties and court order, no criminal charges. Dem want hold Altman personally liable for alleged reckless and willful conduct wey show utter disregard for risk to human life.
Florida don push back against Trump administration efforts to stymie state AI regulation. Governor Ron DeSantis recently propose an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” for citizens to bolster data privacy and shield residents from negative financial impacts of data centres.
Di lawsuit add to growing list of legal actions against OpenAI. Families of victims of Tumbler Ridge mass shooting for Canada also sue OpenAI, alleging di company should don report suspect worrying ChatGPT use to law enforcement. OpenAI ban di suspect account but no contact police, and dem apologise for dat.
Other tech giants dey face similar challenges. Earlier dis year, di father of a Florida man sue Google, saying dia AI product fuel delusional spiral wey prompt im son to kill himself. Social media companies like Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube dey face barrage of lawsuits from states, school districts, and individuals alleging dem design dia products to be addictive.
Di suit reference incidents where ChatGPT allegedly provide dangerous medical advice, like telling teenager Sam Nelson how to mix kratom and Xanax. Nelson mother allege OpenAI and ChatGPT dey responsible for im wrongful death for May 2025. OpenAI say dem don update di version of ChatGPT wey dey involved.
Altman and im co-founders launch OpenAI as nonprofit for 2015, but since create for-profit corporation wey dey reportedly prepare for initial public offering. OpenAI recently valued at $852 billion after raising $122 billion for latest funding round for March.
