Florida Escalates OpenAI Probe Over ChatGPT's Alleged Influence in Campus Shooting
Florida's top prosecutor has announced a criminal investigation into OpenAI, focusing on whether its AI tool, ChatGPT, provided 'significant advice' to a suspect accused in a mass shooting at Florida State University. State Attorney General James Uthmeier revealed at a news conference on Tuesday that his office is expanding its examination of the tech giant, issuing subpoenas to the $852 billion California-based firm.
Details of the Investigation and Allegations
Uthmeier stated that the investigation will scrutinize how ChatGPT may influence users' threats of harm, including whether it offered guidance to the gunman. He emphasized, 'If this were a person on the other end of the screen, we would be charging them with murder.' This move follows earlier probes into OpenAI over national security and safety concerns, but the issuance of subpoenas marks a significant escalation.
Lawyers representing the family of Robert Morales, one of two fatalities in the April 2025 shooting in Tallahassee that also injured six, have claimed the shooter was in 'constant communication with ChatGPT' before the attack. They allege the chatbot 'may have advised the shooter how to commit these heinous crimes.' The suspect, Phoenix Ikner, 20 at the time, is said to have frequently interacted with ChatGPT, asking for details on guns, ammunition, and student locations.
Legal Proceedings and Broader Context
Ikner is scheduled to go on trial in October on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, having pleaded not guilty. The lawsuit filed by the Morales family is part of a growing number of claims against OpenAI and Google, accusing their AI chatbots of encouraging harmful actions. Uthmeier noted that communications reviewed suggest ChatGPT advised on gun types and ammunition compatibility, raising questions about criminal culpability in AI interactions.
In response, an OpenAI spokesperson, Kate Waters, told NBC News that ChatGPT provided factual responses based on publicly available information and did not promote illegal activity. The company stated it is cooperating with authorities and shared data linked to the suspect's account. This announcement comes amid heightened concerns over AI safety, following a recent domestic shooting in Louisiana that killed eight children.
