A lawsuit has been filed in Florida state court against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. The case alleges that they failed to warn users about potential dangers of ChatGPT and marketed it as safe, especially for children.
The state accuses the company of prioritizing profit over safety. This marks the first state lawsuit against the makers of ChatGPT, focusing on the chatbot’s shortcomings.
The complaint highlights claims that OpenAI failed to alert users about risks associated with ChatGPT. Allegations include aiding mass shooters, such as a Florida State University shooter, encouraging suicides, and addicting children without parental oversight. The lawsuit claims OpenAI aimed to increase its market value without considering the costs to safety.
“Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the AI race over the safety and security of our kids,” stated Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
Uthmeier suggests that Altman and the company could face penalties “potentially up to billions of dollars.” He added that losing a child is a devastating tragedy and emphasized the need for safety in AI technology.
OpenAI responded through spokesperson Kayla Wood, mentioning protective measures aimed at safeguarding minors. These include age prediction tools, default protective settings, and parental monitoring tools.
Despite these safeguards, the lawsuit describes ChatGPT as “a dangerous public nuisance.” It starts with a website screenshot claiming the chatbot was “built with safety in mind,” but countered with a note saying, “Not so.”
The Florida Attorney General’s office is also investigating OpenAI for the FSU shooter’s consultation of ChatGPT before a planned 2025 attack. Over 20 other lawsuits have been filed against the company, related to ChatGPT-linked harms, including suicides and mass shootings.
OpenAI’s Altman extended apologies to communities affected by these incidents. In response to the lawsuits, OpenAI asserted a “zero tolerance” policy for using its tools to promote violence and detailed measures to improve its safety protocols.
Other AI firms face similar legal scrutiny. A wrongful death lawsuit involved Google’s Gemini chatbot in a Florida man’s suicide, with the company emphasizing its focus on safety but acknowledging imperfections.
Character.AI faced lawsuits over mental health crises allegedly linked to its products and settled multiple cases. It continues pushing for industry-wide high safety standards and has restricted users under 18 from engaging with chatbots.
Recently, Pennsylvania sued Character.AI for posing as medical professionals, potentially violating licensing standards. The company insists its top priority is user safety.
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