ChatGPT accused of helping plan a shooting, investigated by the U.S. state of Florida! Attorney General: AI should not be used to destroy humanity

Florida prosecutors open an investigation into OpenAI, suspecting that ChatGPT helped plan a campus shooting, and raising national security and concerns about minors self-harm. OpenAI denies the allegations, stressing that more than 900 million people use it safely every week, and saying it will cooperate with the investigation to prevent AI-related crimes.

U.S. Florida investigates OpenAI over suspicions that ChatGPT helped plot a shooting

According to Axios, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the local prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into OpenAI. The reasons for investigating the company include national security concerns, as well as the possibility that in last year’s Florida State University shooting, ChatGPT allegedly played a role in helping the attacker plan the crime. The scope of the investigation is still unclear, but prosecutors will issue subpoenas.

In a video posted on the social platform X, Uthmeier said, AI should promote human development, not be used to destroy humanity. He emphasized that the state government requires OpenAI to provide an explanation regarding harm to children’s rights, as well as activities that endanger public safety and contribute to the shooting.

Florida State University shooting leaves two dead and five injured

Uthmeier said that ChatGPT is connected to cases involving self-harm and suicide involving minors. He explained that in the Florida State University shooting on April 17, 2025 that left two dead and five injured, the shooter, Phoenix Ikner, may have used the tool to plan the action.

He also expressed concern about the risk that OpenAI data could be used by the Chinese government, and said that when technology companies roll out new technologies, they cannot put public safety at risk. He stressed that no company has the right to harm children, encourage crime, or threaten national security, and that companies that violate the rules will face legal accountability.

OpenAI emphasizes product safety as the industry faces close scrutiny

In response to the allegations, OpenAI issued a statement to rebut that ChatGPT helped plan the shooting and highlighted its efforts on safety measures.

A spokesperson for OpenAI said that more than 900 million people use ChatGPT every week to improve their lives, including learning new skills and navigating healthcare systems. OpenAI’s ongoing safety work plays a key role in providing benefits to the public and supporting scientific research.

OpenAI pledged to cooperate with the investigation, emphasizing that its original purpose is to understand users’ intent and respond in a safe manner.

The Florida investigation into OpenAI reflects that the AI industry is facing heightened scrutiny. Robots such as Google’s Gemini and Grok developed by xAI, which is under Elon Musk, have recently been criticized for their approach to handling warnings about dangerous content.

Among them, Grok and also the X platform (formerly Twitter) sparked controversy over allegedly enabling the creation and spread of child sexual abuse exploitation images due to a one-click image-editing feature.

• **Related report:**Grok generates more than 20,000 child sexual abuse images in 11 days! The EU launches an investigation, with a maximum potential penalty of 6% of annual revenue

OpenAI promotes a safety framework; Florida passes legislation to block loopholes

Before the U.S. state of Florida announced that it would launch an investigation, OpenAI said it had worked with the AI working group of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Attorneys General Alliance to develop a prevention framework, and that the Florida legislature had passed House Bill No. 245 earlier this year.

The bill updates state law by clearly adopting terminology for child sexual abuse material, thereby addressing illegal content generated by AI and closing loopholes. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill on April 1.

Further reading:
The main suspect in South Korea’s largest sexual exploitation case receives life imprisonment! 261 victims on the scale of an “N-room,” and Telegram first helps Korean police with the investigation