Florida has become the first U.S. state to sue OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing the company of misrepresenting the safety of ChatGPT and failing to protect children and vulnerable users from harmful chatbot interactions.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed the lawsuit on Monday in Florida state court, making Florida the first state to take legal action against OpenAI over child-safety risks.
Florida accuses OpenAI of misleading users
The lawsuit argues that OpenAI presented ChatGPT as safer than it actually was.
Reuters reported that Florida accused OpenAI of misrepresenting the safety of ChatGPT, which the lawsuit says harmed children by providing information to school shooters, offering self-harm-related guidance, and addicting young users.
TechCrunch reported that the 83-page complaint accuses OpenAI of ignoring internal and external safety warnings while prioritizing what the lawsuit calls winning “the AI arms race” and building large fortunes.
Uthmeier said at a press conference that “people are getting hurt” and that parents are being deceived, according to Reuters.
Sam Altman is named personally
The lawsuit names both OpenAI and Altman.
TechCrunch reported that Uthmeier called the case the “first-in-the-nation state-led lawsuit” against OpenAI and Altman, alleging that the company put children at risk while allowing a dangerous product to reach millions of Floridians.
Lawsuit cites violent incidents and self-harm cases
The Florida lawsuit points to several incidents where ChatGPT allegedly played a role before violence or self-harm.
The lawsuit cited a shooting at a Tallahassee university last year and other incidents in different states where ChatGPT allegedly provided information to people who later committed violence.
Florida’s attorney general had already launched a criminal investigation in April into what role ChatGPT may have played in the 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University.
OpenAI is facing a separate lawsuit filed by the family of a man killed in the Florida State University shooting, with the family claiming the shooter was aided by ChatGPT in planning the attack.
Florida seeks damages and product changes
Florida is asking for both financial penalties and changes to ChatGPT.
Uthmeier said the lawsuit seeks damages that could reach billions of dollars, along with a court order requiring OpenAI to change how ChatGPT interacts with young users.
That request makes the case about more than compensation. If Florida succeeds, the lawsuit could force changes to chatbot design, youth protections, safety warnings, moderation systems, and escalation rules for users who may be at risk.
OpenAI says it has safety systems
OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
However, OpenAI has said it trains its models to refuse requests that could meaningfully enable violence and notifies law enforcement when conversations suggest an imminent and credible risk of harm to others.
OpenAI previously denied responsibility for the Florida shooting, with a spokesperson saying last year’s mass shooting was a tragedy but that ChatGPT was not responsible.
AI child safety enters a new legal phase
The lawsuit marks a major escalation in the legal fight over AI chatbot safety.
For Florida, the case argues that OpenAI moved too quickly and failed to protect children and vulnerable users from foreseeable risks. For OpenAI, the lawsuit adds to a growing wave of legal claims accusing AI companies of failing to prevent harmful chatbot interactions.
The bigger issue is whether courts will begin treating AI chatbots like consumer products that can be legally challenged over design, warnings, safety controls, and foreseeable misuse. Florida’s lawsuit may be the first state case of its kind, but it is unlikely to be the last if more governments decide that chatbot safety is no longer just a company policy issue.
