Florida sues OpenAI and Sam Altman over alleged safety lapses

Technology Florida sues OpenAI and Sam Altman over alleged safety lapses June 1, 20263:52 PM ET Shannon Bond The lawsuit, filed in Florida state court on Monday, accuses OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, of failing to warn users that ChatGPT could be dangerous and instead marketing it as safe and reliable, including for children. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Florida is accusing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman of putting profit over safety, in the first lawsuit brought by a state against the ChatGPT maker over the alleged shortcomings of the chatbot. The lawsuit, filed in Florida state court on Monday, claims the company and Altman failed to warn users that ChatGPT could be dangerous and instead marketed it as safe and reliable, including for children. It's the latest salvo in a growing effort across the country to hold artificial intelligence companies accountable when harms follow users' interactions with chatbots. Sponsor Message Technology Florida AG launches criminal investigation into ChatGPT over FSU shooting The lawsuit accuses OpenAI of aiding and abetting mass shooters, including a shooter at Florida State University who allegedly used ChatGPT to plan his attack, encouraging vulnerable people to commit suicide, and addicting children "to a tool that feigns human compassion to collect their data with no parental oversight." "This litany of harms is driven by Defendants' insatiable quest to win the AI arms race and amass large fortunes, despite knowing the danger of ChatGPT," the complaint said. "The rise of OpenAI is attributable to a web of deceit and the exploitation of users (including Floridians), leveraging their data and safety to boost OpenAI's market value at unacceptable costs." Mental Health AI chatbots upended their lives. Now they're finding support from each other Florida is also seeking to hold Altman personally liable. "Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the AI race over the safety and secur...