Florida sues OpenAI, CEO Altman over safety concerns
June 1 (UPI) -- Florida's attorney general announced Monday that the stateis suing OpenAI and its founder and CEO, Sam Altman, saying the company chose "profits over public safety" in creating a dangerous product in the form of ChatGPT. It is the first state to sue the company over these design and safety concerns.
"The rise of OpenAI is attributable to a web of deceit and the exploitation of users (including Floridians), leveraging their data and safety to boost OpenAI's market value at unacceptable costs," the complaint filed by Attorney General James Uthmeier said, NBC News reported.
The lawsuit claims that OpenAI violated Florida's rules on deceptive business practices and knew that its chatbot could be dangerous to children and others through actions such as providing "harmful information such as tips on eating disorders, self-harm and mass murder," The New York Times reported. It says OpenAI presents "a great danger of addiction, cognitive decline, suicide, violence and related harms."
The civil suit is separate from Florida's ongoing criminal investigation into OpenAI, which Uthmeier openedin April. It includes multiple counts of deceptive and unfair trade practices, negligence, violations of product liability laws, fraudulent misrepresentation and causing a public nuisance.
OpenAI representatives have not yet commented on this lawsuit. Representatives have said in response to past claims that the company designs its systems with safety in mind and that there are "safeguards in placeto help people, especially teens, when conversations turn sensitive."
"We continue improving ChatGPT's training to recognize and respond to signs of mental and emotional distress, de-escalate conversations and guide people toward real-world support," the company said in a prior statement.
The lawsuits also mentions OpenAI's connections to a mass shooting at Florida State University and killings at the University of South Florida. In both cases, suspects asked ChatGPT for information connected to the attacks.
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM.