OpenAI let ChatGPT aid and abet mass shooters, Florida lawsuit claims

Florida has become the first US state to sue OpenAI over the design and safety of the company's artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT.

The sweeping lawsuit brought by Attorney General James Uthmeier alleges OpenAI and its boss Sam Altman are endangering and addicting children, aiding and abetting mass shooters, and coaxing users into suicide as the company pursues profit.

In a statement responding to the suit, OpenAI said it has "put in place industry leading protections and policies."

The legal action comes as Florida is pursuing a criminal investigation into whether ChatGPT played a part in the murder of two people during a mass shooting at Florida State University last year.

Florida's civil suit is also aiming to hold Altman personally liable for alleged "reckless and wilful conduct", including showing "utter disregard for the risk to human life caused by his firms' conduct", according to the complaint.

It made multiple allegations against OpenAI including deceptive and unfair trade practices, negligence, violating product liability laws, fraudulent misrepresentation and causing a public nuisance.

The complaint cites the Florida State mass shooting as well as the killing of two University of South Florida doctoral students in which the suspect allegedly asked ChatGPT questions about the disposal of human bodies, according to prosecutors.

"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.