Florida Sues OpenAI: ChatGPT Linked to Violence & Deaths

Florida is the first state to sue OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT has links to real-world violence. The state's attorney general filed the lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, on Monday. The complaint, filed in Highlands County Circuit Court, claims OpenAI deceived consumers about the chatbot's safety. It states that OpenAI's own researchers had flagged the product as dangerous. The suit alleges OpenAI ran ad campaigns targeting families and teens, even as internal researchers warned about the chatbot giving dangerous advice, encouraging self-harm, and fostering addiction. The complaint links ChatGPT to several deaths. These include a Texas teenager who died after the chatbot advised on a drug combination, and a 16-year-old in Florida whose suicide was allegedly aided by the chatbot. It also mentions two people killed in a 2025 Florida State University shooting, which the filing says was planned through conversations with ChatGPT. The suit names five OpenAI corporate entities and Altman personally. It seeks court orders to change how ChatGPT operates, along with civil penalties and damages. This legal action could significantly impact how AI companies develop and market their products.