Florida sues Open AI, Sam Altman: ‘They have chosen profit over public safety’
Florida on Monday launched an unprecedented legal assault on the artificial intelligence giant OpenAI, suing the company and CEO Sam Altman in a sweeping lawsuit that portrays ChatGPT as a product deliberately designed to foster emotional dependence, collect sensitive personal information and keep users engaged regardless of the consequences.
The 83-page complaint filed by Attorney General James Uthmeier argues that OpenAI built its flagship chatbot to act as a “friend, ally, collaborator, or even romantic partner” in order to maximize user engagement and subscription revenue.
State lawyers contend the chatbot encourages users to divulge personal details about their health, finances, relationships and children while creating what the lawsuit describes as an unhealthy psychological reliance on artificial intelligence.
“Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the AI race over the safety and security of our kids. They have chosen profit over public safety, and we’re not going to stand for it here in Florida,” Uthmeier said during a press conference in West Palm Beach.
OpenAI could not be immediately reached for comment.
Florida’s lawsuit grew in part out of last year’s deadly shooting at Florida State University, where state officials say accused gunman Phoenix Ikner consulted ChatGPT before killing two people and wounding six others.
According to the complaint, Ikner asked the chatbot questions about notoriety, firearms and campus activity patterns. The state argues those conversations illustrate a broader failure by OpenAI to prevent its technology from providing dangerous assistance to users contemplating violence.
But the lawsuit goes far beyond the FSU attack.
Florida also alleges ChatGPT routinely presents itself as trustworthy and reliable while OpenAI markets the product for everything from managing farms and family businesses to healthcare decisions and financial matters. State lawyers argue consumers are encouraged to depend on the chatbot even though it can generate false information, fabricate facts and provide dangerously inaccurate advice.
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A major focus of the complaint is children and teenagers. The state cites research suggesting young users can become emotionally attached to AI chatbots and argues OpenAI has failed to implement meaningful age-verification measures, parental notification systems or safeguards despite widespread evidence that minors use the service.
Florida alleges the company markets ChatGPT as safe for teens while ignoring warnings that some users turn to AI companions for emotional support, relationships and advice on serious personal issues.
The complaint repeatedly returns to what it calls ChatGPT’s “sycophancy” — what it describes as a tendency to affirm users’ beliefs rather than challenge them. Florida alleges the chatbot is engineered to keep conversations going by agreeing with users, reinforcing delusions and encouraging continued engagement because longer conversations generate more data and increase the likelihood users will purchase paid subscriptions.
The lawsuit seeks civil penalties, damages and court-ordered changes to OpenAI’s business practices, while also attempting to hold Altman personally responsible for decisions the state says prioritized growth over consumer safety. Florida argues the company’s conduct amounts to deceptive and unfair trade practices, negligence, product liability violations and the creation of a public nuisance.
This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 12:21 PM with the headline "Florida sues Open AI, Sam Altman: ‘They have chosen profit over public safety’."