‘People are getting hurt’: Florida suing OpenAI amid safety concerns
Florida filed a lawsuit Monday against OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, alleging the San Francisco tech company failed to inform people about the dangers posed by its popular artificial intelligence chatbot.
OpenAI developed ChatGPT, a chatbot used by more than 900 million people a week to answer questions, compose text, and complete other tasks. But people also use ChatGPT to plan mass murder, obtain self-harm information and engage in other harmful acts, according to the 83-page lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed in Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit, comes as OpenAI faces growing concerns that AI is harming people, including children and teenagers, and that it lacks adequate protections. Florida became the first state to sue OpenAI over security risks, paving the way for others.
“People are getting hurt, parents are being deceived, and they need to pay for it,” Florida Lawyer said. Gen. James Uthmeier said at a news conference Monday. “They need to pay for this by opening their checkbooks and changing the schedule to make sure there are parental controls and that we are not endangering our children.”
OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment. The company says it’s focusing on security on its website and has rolled out new parental controls on ChatGPT.
Suicide prevention and crisis counseling resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a professional or call 988. The nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline will connect callers with trained mental health counselors. Or to reach the Crisis Text Line in the US and Canada, text “HOME” to 741741.
For years, technology companies have faced lawsuits over whether they should be held liable for harm resulting from the design and use of their products. But the growing popularity of AI-powered chatbots raises security concerns, especially as young people adopt these tools in their schools and homes.
Concerns about the risks of artificial intelligence have increased in California. In 2025, the family of a California teenager who died by suicide after speaking with ChatGPT filed a lawsuit against OpenAI over allegations that the chatbot encouraged the 16-year-old to take his own life. This case is included in the Florida case.
Other tech companies, including Google, have faced lawsuits over the alleged role chatbots play in fueling one’s delusions or encouraging self-harm.
California lawmakers have passed new legislation aimed at making artificial intelligence safer, but tech companies say the new regulation could stifle innovation. California and Delaware attorneys general last year expressed concerns about allegations that artificial intelligence chatbots were harming children.
At a press conference about the latest lawsuit, Uthmeier accused OpenAI and Altman of prioritizing profits over public safety as the AI company forges ahead. This year, the Florida attorney general’s office announced that it was investigating OpenAI for ChatGPT’s role in the 2025 Florida State University shooting that left two people dead.
According to the lawsuit, OpenAI and Altman deceived parents into thinking ChatGPT was secure when it was not, in violation of Florida law.
Uthmeier outlined multiple cases in various states where people used ChatGPT in shootings, suicides, and other types of deaths; one of which involved a drug overdose. He said ChatGPT can be “addictive” because it mimics human empathy and tricks users into providing more information to the AI chatbot.
“Today we will send a message to OpenAI: Prepare for a challenge, and there is nothing more important than that right now,” Uthmeier said.
