Florida launches investigation into OpenAI

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is launching an investigation into OpenAI over public safety and national security risks, as reported earlier by Reuters. In a statement on Thursday, Uthmeier says there are concerns that OpenAI’s data and technology are “falling into the hands of America’s enemies, such as the Chinese Communist Party.”

Uthmeier also says that OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been “linked to criminal behavior” related to child sexual abuse material and the “encouragement” of self-harm. He adds that ChatGPT may have been used to “assist” the person suspected of carrying out a shooting at Florida State University in April 2025. This week, the family of a man killed during the FSU shooting filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the suspect of being in “constant communication with ChatGPT.

OpenAI is expected to launch an initial public offering (IPO) this year and is facing scrutiny from regulators over how it handles child safety. Last October, the Federal Trade Commission ordered OpenAI and other tech giants to hand over information about how they assess the effects of their chatbots on kids.

“AI should exist to supplement, support, and advance mankind, not lead to an existential crisis or our ultimate demise,” Uthmeier says. “As Big Tech rolls out these technologies, they should not — they cannot — put our safety and security at risk.” Uthmeier adds that subpoenas related to the investigation are “forthcoming.”