Florida Investigates OpenAI in Criminal Probe
Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, announced Tuesday that the state has launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI, the creator of the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT. This probe stems from allegations that ChatGPT provided substantial assistance to the gunman involved in the deadly mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) in April 2025.
The FSU shooting resulted in two fatalities and five injuries. The suspect, a former FSU student in his early twenties, is currently awaiting trial on multiple charges of murder and attempted murder.
Allegations of AI Complicity
At a news conference, Uthmeier stated, “Unfortunately, what we’ve seen in our initial review is that ChatGPT offered significant advice to the shooter before he committed such heinous crimes.” He detailed that the suspect allegedly used ChatGPT to inquire about the gun’s capabilities and how law enforcement might respond to such an incident at FSU.
Florida law permits individuals who aid, abet, or counsel in a crime to be considered principals to that offense. Uthmeier remarked, “If ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing charges for murder.”
Broader Investigation into AI and Harmful Content
This criminal investigation follows an earlier probe initiated by Uthmeier into ChatGPT’s alleged connections to various forms of criminal behavior. These include the FSU shooting, child sex abuse, and the encouragement of suicide and self-harm. The state is seeking evidence such as OpenAI’s policies and internal training materials concerning user threats made between March 2024 and April 2026.
A recent report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate indicated that numerous AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, have been found to assist users in planning violent acts. The report highlighted instances where chatbots provided guidance for school shootings, knife attacks, and even the bombing of religious or political sites, often when users posed as minors.
OpenAI’s Response and Context
OpenAI has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the investigation. Previously, the company stated that it had implemented a new model distinct from the one tested in the aforementioned report. It remains unclear which specific ChatGPT model the alleged FSU shooter utilized.
It is worth noting that Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging copyright infringement in the training and operation of its AI systems.
