Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the Office of Statewide Prosecution has launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI and its artificial intelligence app, ChatGPT, following a review of chat logs between the program and the man accused of opening fire at Florida State University in April 2025.<\/p>\n
The investigation was prompted after prosecutors reviewed conversations between ChatGPT and accused FSU shooter Phoenix Ikner prior to the attack.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlorida is leading the way in cracking down on AI\u2019s use in criminal behavior, and if ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing charges for murder,\u201d Uthmeier said. \u201cThis criminal investigation will determine whether OpenAI bears criminal responsibility for ChatGPT\u2019s actions in the shooting at Florida State University last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
James Uthmeier (Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass also weighed in on the investigation, stressing the broader dangers of AI technology.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d Glass said. \u201cThe more we can educate ourselves, the better we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities from scams, fraud, and much worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
What Florida law says about aiding a crime<\/p>\n
Under Florida law, anyone who aids, abets or counsels someone in the commission of a crime \u2014 and that crime is committed or attempted \u2014 may be considered a principal to the crime. That means an \u201caider and abettor\u201d can be held just as responsible as the person who carried out the act.<\/p>\n
What prosecutors subpoenaed from OpenAI<\/p>\n
The Office of Statewide Prosecution subpoenaed OpenAI for a range of internal documents and records. For the period of March 1, 2024, through April 17, 2026, prosecutors are seeking all policies and internal training materials related to user threats of harm to others or themselves, as well as policies governing cooperation with law enforcement \u2014 including procedures for reporting possible past, present or future crimes. If policies changed during that period, prosecutors are also requesting documentation of those changes and their effective dates.<\/p>\n
For the dates of March 1, 2024, Oct. 1, 2024, and April 17, 2025, the subpoena requests organizational charts identifying OpenAI executives, directors, department heads and senior managers, along with a full listing of employees within ChatGPT, including their departments, titles and role descriptions.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors also requested any and all media and public statements OpenAI released related to the FSU shooting on April 17, 2025, including press releases and media interviews.<\/p>\n
Details From Court Records <\/p>\n