Florida has become the first US state to sue OpenAI over the design and safety of its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, according to a BBC report. The lawsuit. Brought by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, alleges that OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman are endangering and addicting children, aiding and abetting mass shooters, and encouraging users into suicide as the company focuses on profit.

Multiple Allegations Against OpenAI

In a statement responding to the suit, OpenAI said it has “put in place industry leading protections and policies.” The civil suit seeks to hold Altman personally liable for alleged “reckless and wilful conduct,” including showing “utter disregard for the risk to human life caused by his firms’ conduct.”

Florida’s lawsuit makes multiple allegations against OpenAI, including deceptive and unfair trade practices, negligence, violations of product liability laws, fraudulent misrepresentation, and causing a public nuisance. The complaint references the Florida State mass shooting and the killing of two University of South Florida doctoral students, where the suspect allegedly asked ChatGPT questions about the disposal of human bodies, according to prosecutors.

Focus on Profit Over Public Safety

“Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the AI race over the safety and security of our kids; they have chosen profit over public safety, and we’re not going to stand for it here in Florida. So we will hold them accountable,” Uthmeier said at a press conference on Monday.

OpenAI responded by stating. “Losing a child is the most devastating tragedy that can happen to a family, and we know that no words can come close to addressing the pain of such a loss. AI is a new and powerful technology, and we believe minors need significant protection, which is why we have put in place industry leading protections and policies.”

The company added that it builds safety for minors directly into its products, citing an age detection tool and other methods for parents to monitor their children’s use of AI. “We know pointing to this work will not bring a child back, but we’re committed to getting this right,” an OpenAI spokesperson said.

Broader Legal Challenges to AI Safety

The Florida lawsuit is part of a growing number of legal challenges against OpenAI. The company faces a slew of lawsuits over its safety practices, including several claiming that ChatGPT has acted as a suicide coach and encouraged harmful delusions. Families of some victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting earlier this year in Canada have also sued OpenAI, which banned the suspect’s ChatGPT account due to problematic usage but did not alert authorities.

OpenAI has apologized for not contacting the police in the Tumbler Ridge case, but explained that the suspect’s account did not meet its threshold of a credible or imminent plan for serious physical harm to others. Other major tech companies are also facing legal challenges, as social media companies like Instagram-parent Meta, Snap Inc, TikTok, and Google’s YouTube are dealing with lawsuits from states, school districts, and individuals who allege these platforms are designed to be addictive.

In March. Meta and Google were found liable for harms caused by a 20-year-old plaintiff who claimed they intentionally built their platforms to be addictive; this marked a notable shift in the legal field, as tech companies have long argued they are not responsible for user-generated content. However, product liability cases involving design choices appear to be gaining traction.

Uthmeier and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, both Republicans, have frustrated AI companies, which have enjoyed significant support from US President Donald Trump. Florida has pushed back against the Trump administration’s efforts to stymie AI regulation by US states and recently proposed an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” for citizens aimed at bolstering data privacy and shielding residents from negative financial impacts of data centres.