State of Florida launches lawsuit against OpenAI

(CBS, KYMA) - It's being called a landmark lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman as the state of Florida accuses them of concealing dangers, putting kids at risk, aiding mass shooters, and encouraging self-harm.

"Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the AI race over the safety and security of our kids," said Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.

In a scathing statement Monday, Attorney General Uthmeier accused OpenAI and Altman of deceiving users.

The state has filed a civil suit, accusing Altman and OpenAI of ignoring warnings about the dangers of its prized product, ChatGPT, saying the company knew the chatbot was capable of advising users on how to commit dangerous acts.

But according to the complaint, the company expedited the release of updates and allegedly disregarded safety testing.

The suit alleges the chat bot has aided and abetted mass shooters, encouraged people to take their own lives, all while collecting data from young people with little parental oversight.

The attorney general referenced numerous incidents, including a deadly shooting at Florida State University (FSU) last year, where he alleges ChatGPT played a role in helping the suspect prepare for the crime.

Although OpenAI is controlled by a non-profit entity, it's business operations are for-profit and Wall Street analysts believe the company is preparing for one of the largest initial public offerings in history, but with the expected IPO comes even more scrutiny, says UCLA Law Professor Julia Powles.

In a statement, OpenAI said it's put in place industry-leading protections for young people and has given parents more tools to monitor their use.

The company denies ChatGPT was responsible for the deadly incident at FSU, saying it did not encourage the suspect to do what he allegedly did.