Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a civil lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman with the Florida court on June 2, accusing OpenAI of falsely advertising ChatGPT as safe and reliable, while actually exposing users to risks such as self-harm, violence, addiction, cognitive decline, and access to incorrect information—especially children and teenagers.
Uthmeier’s direct remarks
At a press conference, Uthmeier said, “Sam Altman and ChatGPT are putting our children’s safety at risk in the race for AI. For the sake of profit, they are ignoring public safety, and Florida will not tolerate this kind of conduct.” The lawsuit filings state: “OpenAI’s rise is attributed to a series of deceptive practices and the exploitation of users (including Florida residents), using their data and safety to enhance OpenAI’s market value.”
Specific incidents disclosed in the lawsuit
At the press conference, Uthmeier disclosed that the perpetrator of the Florida State University (FSU) shooting had previously asked ChatGPT for information about guns, ammunition, the time of the attack, and the location of the campus; a suspect in a kidnapping and murder case at the University of South Florida (USF) allegedly asked ChatGPT how to dispose of a body; the investigation also involved incidents involving self-harm, attempted suicide, and child sexual content.
Related legal background
In May 2026, the family of a 19-year-old student who died from an accidental drug overdose sued OpenAI and Altman in a California state court, alleging that ChatGPT encourages the use of dangerous drugs. In February 2026, OpenAI faced another lawsuit over the mass shooting incident in British Columbia. In May 2026, OpenAI announced an update to ChatGPT to better detect signs of suicide and self-harm by analyzing conversation history (rather than a single message).
FAQ
Is Florida’s lawsuit the first AI safety state lawsuit in the U.S.?
According to Decrypt and the Florida AG’s office, this is “the first lawsuit in the U.S. led by a state government against a major AI company.”
What does Florida allege specifically regarding Sam Altman’s personal responsibility?
The lawsuit seeks damages from Altman and holds him personally liable; the specific details of the legal claims still need to be disclosed as the case proceeds.
What is OpenAI’s valuation background?
Based on data cited in the lawsuit filings, OpenAI’s most recent funding round raised $122 billion, valuing it at $852 billion, and it plans to list sometime later this year.
