TAMPA, Fla. (WCTV) – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday morning that his office is sending subpoenas to OpenAI and ChatGPT in connection with a criminal investigation.<\/p>\n
This announcement came after Uthmeier said his office had been looking into the AI company for \u201cseveral harms [that] Floridians, Americans, have been suffering as a result of ChatGPT.\u201d <\/p>\n
Uthmeier told reporters at the press conference that his office has seen \u201cincreases in self-harm and suicides by kids using this platform. We have seen individuals use this platform to engage in criminal activity. Such as child pornography, and then most recently […] we have been looking into the recent FSU shooting<\/a> and that shooter\u2019s communications with ChatGPT.\u201d<\/p>\n Uthmeier went on to explain that after reviewing those communications, a criminal investigation became necessary. He told reporters that after his office\u2019s initial review, \u201cChatGPT offered significant advice to the [FSU] shooter<\/a> before he committed such heinous crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n See more of WCTV\u2019s latest news here<\/p>\n \u201cTechnology, AI, is supposed to support mankind. It is supposed to help mankind. It is supposed to advance mankind. Not end it,\u201d Uthmeier said.<\/p>\n Prosecutors with the state attorney general\u2019s office informed Uthmeier that if there were a person on the other end of Phoenix Ikner\u2019s screen corresponding with him, they would charge that person with murder.<\/p>\n Uthmeier went on to announce that his office is opening this investigation to determine whether there is sufficient criminal culpability in this case to charge OpenAI as a corporation.<\/p>\n WCTV\u2019s Capitol Bureau reporter Cody Butler is following this developing story and will have more tonight on Eyewitness News and on WCTV.tv.<\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n