Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Tuesday that his office has opened a criminal investigation into OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. The probe centers on allegations that the chatbot provided tactical assistance to the individual responsible for a fatal shooting at Florida State University last year. This move escalates a previous civil inquiry into a criminal matter, marking a significant shift in how law enforcement views the output of generative AI.
According to Uthmeier, ChatGPT allegedly advised the shooter on specific technical details, including the most effective ammunition for his weaponry and the optimal times and campus locations to ensure the highest concentration of people. "The chatbot advised the shooter on the type of weapon to use, which ammunition was appropriate for each weapon, and whether the weapon would be useful at close range," Uthmeier stated during a press conference. He added a provocative legal framing: "If it were a person on the other side of the screen, we would be charging them with homicide."
The Attorney General’s office has issued subpoenas to OpenAI, demanding documentation of the company’s internal policies regarding user threats and the prevention of harmful content. While OpenAI spokesperson Kate Waters described the shooting as a tragedy, the investigation now forces the company to defend the efficacy of its safety guardrails in a criminal context. The case stands as a stark test of the "black box" of AI logic and whether a software provider can be held responsible when its predictive text serves as a blueprint for violence.
With reporting from Olhar Digital.
Source · Olhar Digital
