United States: ChatGPT targeted by criminal investigation after shooting on a Florida campus

The Florida prosecutor launched an unprecedented criminal investigation into OpenAI on Tuesday following the deadly shooting at Florida State University in April 2025, where the suspect allegedly used ChatGPT to plan his attack.

This is a first in the United States. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced the opening of a criminal investigation targeting OpenAI and its ChatGPT interface, in connection with the shooting that occurred in April 2025 at Florida State University. The attack, perpetrated by 20-year-old student Phoenix Ikner, left two dead and six wounded on campus. Authorities are now focusing on the exchanges between the suspect and the chatbot before the attack.

According to the evidence gathered, the shooter had questioned ChatGPT about aspects related to weapons, ammunition, and opportune moments to maximize the attack's impact. At a press conference, James Uthmeier stated that ChatGPT had "provided significant guidance to the shooter before he committed this heinous crime." "My investigators told me that if this thing on the other side of the screen (ChatGPT) was a person, we would charge them with homicide," he added.

"A new legal territory"

According to information obtained by The New York Times, the suspect also reportedly asked how the country would react to a shooting on campus and what the peak times were at the university. The prosecutor stated that this procedure marks a turning point, shifting from a civil to a criminal investigation, while acknowledging that pursuing a company on this ground constitutes "uncharted legal territory."

For its part, OpenAI denied any responsibility, stating that "ChatGPT (was) not responsible for this heinous crime" and that the tool had only provided "factual answers." The company indicated it is cooperating with authorities and reiterated its commitment to strengthening its mechanisms to "detect dangerous intent" and "respond appropriately." The ongoing investigation does not rule out potential legal action and could include a review of the company's internal practices and security policies.

In January, Google and Character.AI reached amicable agreements with families accusing chatbots of harming minors and driving one of them to take his own life.