First case in the U.S.! Florida officially sues OpenAI, Altman, with an 83-page complaint accusing ChatGPT of inciting violence

Florida State Attorney General James Uthmeier officially filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman on Monday (6/1), accusing them of neglecting safety risks in the pursuit of the AI arms race, leading to ChatGPT being linked to multiple violent incidents, suicides, and underage addiction issues. This is the first safety lawsuit against OpenAI initiated by a state government in the United States.
(Background: Florida investigates OpenAI: Shooter asked ChatGPT how to disable insurance before opening fire, involved in multiple violence and death cases)
(Additional context: ChatGPT accused of assisting "youth suicide," OpenAI responds)

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• 83-page lawsuit with four major charges
• Florida AG: This is OpenAI’s systemic neglect of safety
• Wave of safety lawsuits: from suicide cases to murder cases

Florida State Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Monday (6/1) that he has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing the company of systematically ignoring safety warnings in the pursuit of the "AI arms race" and huge profits. This is the first civil lawsuit led by a U.S. state government concerning the safety of AI chatbots.

The lengthy 83-page complaint states that OpenAI and Altman "disregarded internal and external safety warnings, placing children at great risk, and allowing a dangerous product to reach millions of residents in Florida." The Florida authorities had already launched a criminal investigation in April this year; this civil suit is an extension of that.

83-page lawsuit with four major charges

According to the indictment released by the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the specific charges cover four areas:

• Assistance in mass shootings: The shooter at Florida State University (FSU) last year consulted ChatGPT before the attack, asking how to disable a gun’s safety. The shooter’s family has filed a separate civil lawsuit.
• Inducing suicide: ChatGPT is accused of providing "technical specifications" for methods of suicide during conversations with vulnerable users, even while also guiding users to seek mental health resources.
• Underage addiction: OpenAI is accused of lacking effective age verification and parental supervision mechanisms, leading minors to develop dependencies on ChatGPT.
• Public humiliation and cognitive decline: Some users suffered public humiliation due to incorrect information provided by ChatGPT, and others reported cognitive decline.

Florida AG: This is OpenAI’s systemic neglect of safety

Uthmeier emphasized at a press conference that this is not an isolated product failure but a systemic issue at the corporate governance level. "OpenAI and Altman, in their rush to accelerate product launch and capture market share, selectively ignored repeated safety concerns raised by internal research teams and external experts."

OpenAI previously denied responsibility for the FSU shooting, with a spokesperson telling NBC News, "The FSU mass shooting is a tragedy, but ChatGPT is not the cause of this terrible crime." The company also cited the suicide of teenager Adam Raine, claiming users "bypassed safety mechanisms." Media outlets like TechCrunch have reached out to OpenAI for comment on this lawsuit but have not received a response as of press time.

Wave of safety lawsuits: from suicide cases to murder cases

This is not the first time ChatGPT has been sued over safety issues. In November last year, California teenager Adam Raine took his own life after discussing suicide with ChatGPT; his parents sued OpenAI for negligence leading to death. Subsequently, seven families jointly sued OpenAI, accusing ChatGPT of playing a role in the suicide. In April this year, a stalking victim also sued OpenAI, claiming ChatGPT fostered the stalker’s delusions.

Additionally, OpenAI recently settled a lawsuit with co-founder Elon Musk, with the jury quickly ruling that Musk lost due to the statute of limitations. Now, this Florida lawsuit will further escalate OpenAI’s safety controversies within the U.S. judicial system.