Florida Sues OpenAI, Altman: ChatGPT Safety Risks

Florida has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, over public safety risks concerning ChatGPT. The complaint, filed in Highlands County, names five OpenAI corporate entities along with Altman personally. Here's the thing: Florida seeks civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, along with other relief. The lawsuit is one of the most detailed state-level legal actions against a generative AI company to date, spanning over 80 pages and ten separate counts. It accuses OpenAI of building an unsafe product, marketing it as reliable and child-friendly, and prioritizing revenue over documented harms. These alleged harms include suicide, mass shootings, financial fraud, and cognitive decline in minors. The complaint states ChatGPT has millions of users in Florida, including tens of thousands under 13, generating millions in annual revenue from the state. The ten counts cover unfair and immoral acts, unconscionable acts, deceptive acts, Children's Online Privacy Protection Act violations, negligence, strict liability for design defect and failure to warn, and fraudulent misrepresentation. This action highlights growing legal scrutiny of AI companies regarding their products' impact on public well-being.