Prosecutors in Florida have launched a criminal investigation into ChatGPT because of claims that the AI bot helped an alleged killer prepare for a mass shooting.
James Uthmeier, Florida’s attorney general, said state officials were demanding answers from OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, which allegedly offered “significant advice” to a gunman who left two people dead at Florida State University in April 2025.
“If ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing charges for murder,” Mr Uthmeier said. “This criminal investigation will determine whether OpenAI bears criminal responsibility for ChatGPT’s actions in the shooting at Florida State University last year.”
Mr Uthmeier told a press conference on Wednesday that ChatGPT allegedly “advised the shooter on what type of gun to use, on which ammo went with which gun, on whether or not a gun would be useful in short range”.
He also claimed ChatGPT guided the shooter on when the best time for an attack would be and where on the campus they would encounter the most potential victims.
An OpenAI spokesman said: “ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime.”
Phoenix Ikner, a student at the university, has been charged with killing two people and wounding six after he opened fire with a handgun in the students’ union on April 17 last year. The 21-year-old is facing two murder charges with US officials seeking the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty.
Under Florida law, anyone who aids, abets or counsels someone who commits a crime can be considered equally responsible.
Florida officials are investigating whether OpenAI bears any criminal responsibility for ChatGPT’s interactions with Mr Ikner before the attack.
Commissioner Mark Glass, of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, said: “It is important that all are aware of the risks of this new technology, and the harms it can and has already caused in our communities.”
Prosecutors have issued subpoenas to OpenAI seeking all its policies and training material on how to interact with users threatening potential crimes or harm to others.
Growing lawsuits against AI companies
The family of Robert Morales, a 57-year-old man killed in the attack, this month sued OpenAI claiming the shooter had been in “constant communication with ChatGPT”.
AI companies have been accused of failing to spot signs that users are preparing to harm others or themselves and are facing a growing number of lawsuits.
In Canada, the family of a girl critically wounded in a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, sued OpenAI in March alleging it had “specific knowledge of the shooter utilising ChatGPT to plan a mass casualty event”. OpenAI has said it is making “meaningful changes” to its app to proactively notify police of potential threats.
On the Florida investigation, an OpenAI spokesman said: “Last year’s mass shooting at Florida State University was a tragedy, but ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime.
“After learning of the incident, we identified a ChatGPT account believed to be associated with the suspect and proactively shared this information with law enforcement. We continue to cooperate with authorities.”
The spokesman added: “In this case, ChatGPT provided factual responses to questions with information that could be found broadly across public sources on the internet, and it did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity.
“ChatGPT is a general-purpose tool used by hundreds of millions of people every day for legitimate purposes. We work continuously to strengthen our safeguards to detect harmful intent, limit misuse and respond appropriately when safety risks arise.”