The Attorney General of Florida, James Uthmeier, has announced that he will open an investigation against OpenAI for the alleged role of its tool ChatGPT in a 2025 shooting that left two dead at an American university.
The investigation is based on a preliminary analysis of the conversation history between ChatGPT and Phoenix Ikner, a 21-year-old student accused of murdering two people and injuring seven others at Florida State University.
According to authorities, the attacker reportedly interacted with artificial intelligence hours before committing the crime.
Accusations of prior advice
Uthmeier has stated that ChatGPT offered "significant advice" to the shooter, including indications about the type of weapon or ammunition. In this regard, he has assured that, if it were a person, the system could face charges for its alleged involvement.
The investigation seeks to determine if the company could have criminal liability under state legislation, which contemplates offenses for "aiding, abetting, or advising" the commission of a crime.
Authorities have issued a subpoena for OpenAI to deliver internal documentation, including security policies, training materials related to third-party risks, and cooperation protocols with law enforcement, in addition to information about its executive staff.
Debate on the risks of artificial intelligence
From the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, they have warned about the risks associated with the use of these technologies and their possible impact on public safety.
The case is framed within a context of growing regulatory pressure on artificial intelligence companies in the state, where legal actions have already been taken against other platforms.
The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, has reiterated his intention to promote stricter regulation of artificial intelligence, despite the open debate in the United States about whether these rules should be established at the federal level under the administration of Donald Trump.