OpenAI is facing a new legal challenge in the United States after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a sweeping civil lawsuit accusing the company of placing commercial ambitions ahead of public safety in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence.
The 83-page complaint, filed in a Florida state court, names both OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, as defendants. The lawsuit alleges the company knowingly pursued rapid expansion while disregarding risks associated with its AI products, particularly ChatGPT, and seeks to hold Altman personally accountable for alleged harm suffered by Florida residents.
According to the complaint, OpenAI built its rapid growth by exploiting user interactions and data while failing to implement sufficient safeguards against foreseeable risks. Florida argues that the company continued expanding its AI systems despite being aware of potential dangers to the public.
The lawsuit alleges that Altman demonstrated what it describes as a “complete disregard for risks to human life” through the company’s policies and business decisions. State officials argue that OpenAI prioritized winning the race to dominate artificial intelligence over ensuring adequate consumer protections.
The case marks the first lawsuit brought by a U.S. state government focused specifically on AI safety concerns surrounding OpenAI’s operations. It is separate from a criminal investigation that Uthmeier’s office opened into the company in April.
Throughout the filing, Florida links ChatGPT to several recent incidents that it argues illustrate broader risks associated with generative AI technology. The complaint alleges the chatbot has contributed to harmful behavior, including violent crimes and suicides, while also encouraging excessive dependence among children and teenagers.
State attorneys further argue that ChatGPT is designed to interact with users in ways that appear empathetic, potentially allowing the company to collect information from younger users without sufficient parental oversight.
Among the examples cited in the lawsuit is the alleged use of ChatGPT in planning a mass shooting at Florida State University in April 2025. The complaint also references the killings of two graduate students at the University of South Florida during the same month.
Florida contends that such incidents demonstrate risks that OpenAI allegedly understood but failed to address before making its AI systems widely available.
“The chain of harms has been driven by the defendants’ insatiable ambition to win the AI arms race and amass enormous wealth despite knowing the dangers of ChatGPT,” the complaint states.
The lawsuit accuses OpenAI of multiple legal violations, including four counts related to allegedly deceptive and unfair trade practices, two negligence claims, two product liability claims, one count of fraudulent misrepresentation and one claim alleging the creation of a public nuisance.
Florida is asking the court to impose civil penalties on OpenAI while ordering the company to limit data collection involving minors. The state is also seeking an injunction requiring the company to stop practices it considers misleading and to provide clearer warnings about the potential risks associated with using ChatGPT.
Speaking during a news conference on Monday, Uthmeier said the public had been harmed and parents had been misled about the technology’s risks. He argued that financial penalties alone would not be sufficient and called for meaningful changes to OpenAI’s products, including stronger parental controls for younger users.
The lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal and regulatory challenges confronting OpenAI as generative AI becomes increasingly integrated into education, business and everyday life. Governments around the world have intensified scrutiny of AI developers, raising questions about accountability, transparency and consumer protection as the technology evolves.
Responding to the lawsuit, OpenAI said it recognizes that artificial intelligence is a transformative technology requiring robust safeguards, particularly for children and teenagers.
The company said it has implemented a range of safety features designed specifically to protect younger users and remains committed to strengthening those systems over time.
An OpenAI spokesperson also acknowledged the tragic cases involving children and families referenced in the broader public debate surrounding AI safety.
“We know that discussing these efforts will not bring back a child, but we are committed to getting this right,” the spokesperson said in comments summarized by The Yogya Post from Variety.
OpenAI added that it remains committed to improving its safety measures as its technology continues to evolve. The company has previously maintained that its products are designed to be safe for users and, in responding to another lawsuit related to mental health last November, said it had already introduced safeguards intended to assist users—particularly teenagers—when conversations involve sensitive topics.
