Florida Sues OpenAI, Sam Altman Over ChatGPT Safety Claims
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a state lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing them of misleading users about ChatGPT’s safety and exposing children and other users to serious harms. The complaint seeks damages, injunctive relief, and personal liability for Altman. It alleges ChatGPT has contributed to risks including self-harm, violence, addiction, cognitive decline, and misinformation, and says OpenAI ignored safety warnings while prioritizing growth and profit. The filing follows a Florida investigation opened in April and adds to growing legal pressure on OpenAI. Uthmeier cited cases involving a Florida State University shooting, a USF kidnapping and murder case, and other alleged incidents tied to chatbot use. OpenAI recently said it updated ChatGPT to better detect suicide, self-harm, and violence risks by analyzing conversation patterns over time. The lawsuit also points to OpenAI’s rapid rise in valuation and claims that growth was fueled by exploiting user data and safety.
