Florida sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing them of putting profit over safety
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman on Monday, accusing the company of prioritizing profit over safety, fueling violence, and releasing a product it allegedly knew could harm users.
The complaint, filed Monday, says “the rise of OpenAI is attributable to a web of deceit and the exploitation of users (including Floridians), leveraging their data and safety to boost OpenAI’s market value at unacceptable costs.”
Florida is the first state to sue OpenAI and Altman over design and safety. The civil case seeks penalties and a court order, not criminal charges, and also attempts to hold Altman personally liable for harm to Floridians, citing what the filing describes as reckless conduct and disregard for risks to human life. The lawsuit is separate from a criminal investigation into OpenAI opened by Uthmeier in late April that is still ongoing.
The suit includes four counts of deceptive and unfair trade practices, two counts of negligence, two product liability violations, and one count each of fraudulent misrepresentation and public nuisance. It alleges OpenAI systems pose a “great danger of addiction, cognitive decline, suicide, violence, and related harms.”
OpenAI says its systems are built with “safety at every step” and include safeguards, especially for teens. It also says it continues improving ChatGPT training to detect emotional distress, de-escalate conversations, and guide users to real-world support.
The complaint references alleged use of ChatGPT in planning a mass shooting at Florida State University and the killing of two graduate students at University of South Florida. OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said ChatGPT is “not responsible” for the Florida State University shooting and only provided factual, publicly available information without encouraging illegal activity.
The lawsuit adds to other legal actions against OpenAI, including suits from at least seven individuals alleging its products contributed to suicides or delusions, and cases brought by families of victims of a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge. Those families argue OpenAI should have alerted authorities after concerning user interactions. Sam Altman apologized to the community in late April, pledging cooperation with governments to prevent similar incidents.
The case is part of broader efforts by Florida officials, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, to challenge major AI companies. DeSantis has proposed an AI Bill of Rights emphasizing privacy and has criticized data center expansion while also asserting states’ authority to regulate AI.
