Florida Plans Investigation into OpenAI Amid Allegations That ChatGPT Was Used in Planning School Shootings
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier recently announced that his office will investigate OpenAI after its product ChatGPT was alleged to have potentially aided in planning a fatal shooting incident. The event occurred in April 2025 at Florida State University, where a shooter opened fire on campus, resulting in two deaths and five injuries. Last week, an attorney representing one of the victims claimed the gunman had used ChatGPT to assist in plotting the attack, prompting victim families to announce plans to sue OpenAI. In a post on social media, Uthmeier stated, "Artificial intelligence should benefit humanity rather than cause harm," accusing related technologies of harming youth and endangering public safety. He also revealed that subpoenas would be issued during the investigation to obtain further information. In recent years, ChatGPT has been linked to multiple violent incidents, including murders, suicides, and shootings, sparking concerns about "AI psychosis." This concept refers to individuals whose delusional or paranoid thinking becomes reinforced or amplified through interactions with chatbots. According to a Wall Street Journal report, a man with a history of mental illness killed his mother and then committed suicide after frequent conversations with ChatGPT, with chat logs showing the bot partially reinforced his paranoid cognitions. In response, OpenAI stated that over 900 million users currently utilize ChatGPT weekly for positive purposes such as learning and accessing medical information. The company emphasized its ongoing investment in security mechanisms and expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation. This inquiry comes amid mounting pressure on OpenAI. Recent media reports concerning CEO Sam Altman have sparked industry controversy, while projects underway in the UK have faced suspension due to energy costs and regulatory issues.
