HomeFlorida AG Investigates OpenAI Over Alleged ChatGPT Shooting Incident
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Thursday that his office is launching an investigation into OpenAI, citing allegations that ChatGPT played a role in a fatal shooting last year.
In April 2025, a gunman opened fire on the campus of Florida State University, killing two people and injuring five others. Last week, attorneys representing one of the victims claimed the attacker used ChatGPT to plan the assault. The victim's family has stated its intention to sue OpenAI over the incident.
"AI should advance humanity, not destroy it," Uthmeier said in a statement posted on X. "We are demanding answers regarding OpenAI's activities that have harmed children, endangered Americans, and facilitated the recent mass shooting at FSU. Those responsible must be held accountable." In a video statement, Uthmeier added that subpoenas are "forthcoming" as part of the investigation.
ChatGPT has been connected to a rising number of fatalities and violent acts—including murders, suicides, and shootings—fueling concerns about the emergence of what psychologists term "AI psychosis." This refers to delusions that are reinforced, encouraged, or intensified through interactions with chatbots.
For instance, a Wall Street Journal investigation found that Stein-Erik Soelberg, a man with a history of mental health challenges, regularly communicated with ChatGPT before killing his mother and then himself last year. The chatbot appeared to repeatedly reinforce the paranoid thoughts that overwhelmed him in the period leading up to the murder-suicide.
When contacted by TechCrunch for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson provided this statement: "Every week, over 900 million people use ChatGPT to enhance their daily lives, whether by learning new skills or navigating complex healthcare systems. Our ongoing safety efforts are crucial to delivering these benefits to the public and supporting scientific research. We design ChatGPT to understand user intent and respond safely and appropriately, and we continuously work to improve our technology. We will cooperate fully with the Attorney General's investigation."
Florida's probe adds to a series of recent challenges for OpenAI. A New Yorker profile of Sam Altman published earlier this week revealed internal criticism and discontent among company staff and investors, even quoting a Microsoft executive who said, "I believe there is a small but real chance he will ultimately be remembered as a scammer on the level of Bernie Madoff or Sam Bankman-Fried." Meanwhile, a Stargate-related project in the United Kingdom has reportedly been paused due to high energy costs and regulatory hurdles.
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I can't believe AI is already being blamed for real-world violence like a shooting, does this mean we need stricter regulations on its deployment soon?
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Thursday that his office is launching an investigation into OpenAI, citing allegations that ChatGPT played a role in a fatal shooting last year.
In April 2025, a gunman opened fire on the campus of Florida State University, killing two people and injuring five others. Last week, attorneys representing one of the victims claimed the attacker used ChatGPT to plan the assault. The victim's family has stated its intention to sue OpenAI over the incident.
"AI should advance humanity, not destroy it," Uthmeier said in a statement posted on X. "We are demanding answers regarding OpenAI's activities that have harmed children, endangered Americans, and facilitated the recent mass shooting at FSU. Those responsible must be held accountable." In a video statement, Uthmeier added that subpoenas are "forthcoming" as part of the investigation.
ChatGPT has been connected to a rising number of fatalities and violent acts—including murders, suicides, and shootings—fueling concerns about the emergence of what psychologists term "AI psychosis." This refers to delusions that are reinforced, encouraged, or intensified through interactions with chatbots.
For instance, a Wall Street Journal investigation found that Stein-Erik Soelberg, a man with a history of mental health challenges, regularly communicated with ChatGPT before killing his mother and then himself last year. The chatbot appeared to repeatedly reinforce the paranoid thoughts that overwhelmed him in the period leading up to the murder-suicide.
When contacted by TechCrunch for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson provided this statement: "Every week, over 900 million people use ChatGPT to enhance their daily lives, whether by learning new skills or navigating complex healthcare systems. Our ongoing safety efforts are crucial to delivering these benefits to the public and supporting scientific research. We design ChatGPT to understand user intent and respond safely and appropriately, and we continuously work to improve our technology. We will cooperate fully with the Attorney General's investigation."
Florida's probe adds to a series of recent challenges for OpenAI. A New Yorker profile of Sam Altman published earlier this week revealed internal criticism and discontent among company staff and investors, even quoting a Microsoft executive who said, "I believe there is a small but real chance he will ultimately be remembered as a scammer on the level of Bernie Madoff or Sam Bankman-Fried." Meanwhile, a Stargate-related project in the United Kingdom has reportedly been paused due to high energy costs and regulatory hurdles.
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I can't believe AI is already being blamed for real-world violence like a shooting, does this mean we need stricter regulations on its deployment soon?
