OpenAI is reportedly under criminal investigation in the United States over allegations that its chatbot, ChatGPT, may have played a role in a deadly mass shooting at Florida State University.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed that authorities are reviewing whether ChatGPT provided “significant advice” to the suspect prior to the 2025 campus attack that left two people dead and several others injured. Investigators are said to be examining chat logs, safety systems, and the AI platform’s responses to potentially harmful prompts.
“If this were a person on the other end of the screen, we would be charging them with murder,” Uthmeier said, adding that the inquiry will assess whether AI systems could bear legal responsibility depending on their involvement in violent outcomes.
Reports suggest the suspect had extensive conversations with ChatGPT before the attack, including discussions related to weapons and attack planning. Authorities are now trying to determine whether any responses contributed to or influenced the planning process.
OpenAI has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and stated that it is cooperating fully with investigators. The company says ChatGPT is designed with safety safeguards to prevent it from assisting in illegal or harmful activities and has provided relevant data to law enforcement.
The investigation also includes requests for internal documents related to OpenAI’s safety protocols and risk detection systems. Legal analysts say the case could set an important precedent on AI accountability and corporate liability in incidents involving generative AI tools.
No charges have been filed against OpenAI at this stage, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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