Florida Sues OpenAI Over ChatGPT Safety Concerns

Florida became the first United States state to file a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive officer, Sam Altman, on 1 June 2026. The case was filed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in Florida’s Tenth Circuit Court under state laws on deceptive or unfair trade practices.

ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence Chatbots

ChatGPT is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. It uses large language models to generate text responses from user prompts and is available through web and mobile interfaces. Artificial intelligence chatbots are software systems that process natural language inputs and produce machine-generated replies. Large language models are trained on large text datasets and are used in applications such as question answering, drafting, translation, and coding assistance.

Allegations in the Florida Complaint

The 83-page complaint states that ChatGPT is unsafe for minors and can provide access to information on eating disorders and self-harm. It also alleges that the product can encourage suicide, contribute to behavioural addiction, and affect critical thinking skills. Florida has alleged that OpenAI failed to provide meaningful age verification and parental oversight for minors using ChatGPT. The complaint also seeks civil penalties, damages, and court-ordered changes to OpenAI’s business practices.

State Action and Legal Context

The lawsuit follows a criminal investigation launched in April 2026 by the Florida Attorney General into ChatGPT’s possible role in a 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University. The investigation examined whether the accused gunman consulted ChatGPT before the attack. State consumer protection laws in the United States often cover deceptive acts, unfair trade practices, and false advertising. Civil penalties and damages are common remedies in such cases, and state attorneys general can file actions in state courts.

Important Facts for Exams

• Florida became the first United States state to sue OpenAI over ChatGPT safety concerns.
• Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed the case in Florida’s Tenth Circuit Court.
• ChatGPT is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI.
• Florida State University is a public university in Tallahassee, Florida.

OpenAI has stated that minors need significant protections around artificial intelligence tools. The company has also said that it has developed protections and policies for parents and teenagers.