Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman over alleged ChatGPT safety failures and harms to minors
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman on Monday, alleging the company concealed serious ChatGPT safety risks and seeking to hold Altman personally liable, according to CNBC. The complaint cites harms to minors and ties to the FSU shooting probe.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed what his office calls the first US state-led civil lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging the company knowingly released and aggressively marketed ChatGPT while concealing serious safety risks, according to CNBC. The complaint asserts that OpenAI prioritized speed to market and commercial gain over user safety, ignored repeated warnings from internal and external experts, and deployed a product that facilitates self-harm and violence while assuring users it was safe. Uthmeier also focuses on harms to minors, claiming ChatGPT collects data from children without meaningful parental oversight and produces behavioral addiction and cognitive damage. The suit seeks personal liability against Altman, with potential penalties Uthmeier suggests could run into the billions. A separate Florida criminal investigation into OpenAI references the FSU shooter's alleged consultation of ChatGPT before the April 2025 attack.