Florida AG sues OpenAI and Sam Altman over claims the technology is dangerous and exploits its users
Florida today became the first U.S. state to sue OpenAI Group PBC and its chief executive, Sam Altman, alleging that its product ChatGPT can be harmful to its users and that the company has failed to make clear these dangers to the public.
“Today, we announced the first-in-the-nation state-led lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said. “OpenAI and Altman ignored internal and external safety warnings, put children at great risk, and allowed a dangerous product to reach millions of Floridians.”
In an 83-page complaint, Uthmeier claims OpenAI is “attributable to a web of deceit and the exploitation of users (including Floridians), leveraging their data and safety to boost OpenAI’s market value at unacceptable costs.” In what is a litany of criticism, the lawsuit claims ChatGPT has aided “deadly rampages,” and driven vulnerable people to suicide, while harming consumers’ critical thinking skills and addicted young people by feigning “human compassion.”
The allegations relate to a number of incidents. One of them was a deadly mass shooting in 2025 when the perpetrator was later found to have sought advice from ChatGPT on a number of matters prior to the committing the crime. Uthmeier later announced he would launch a probe into OpenAI for the shooting, as well as mental health concerns related to using the chatbot.
