OpenAI and ChatGPT are in the crosshairs of the Florida Attorney General and the scandal has just exploded. Former Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier officially announced the opening of an investigation into OpenAI and its most famous chatbot.

ChatGPT and the Florida State University Shooting

The trigger for this investigation is related to one of the most tragic events of last year. In April 2025, a gunman opened fire on the Florida State University campus, killing two people and injuring five others. A devastating story that, months later, would take a disturbing technological turn.

Last week, lawyers for one of the victims revealed that ChatGPT was allegedly used to plan the attack. The family of one of the deceased has already announced plans to sue OpenAI directly. That was enough for Attorney General Uthmeier to set the legal machinery in motion.

Beyond the Shooting: Children, Suicides, and National Security

Although the shooting was the immediate catalyst, the investigation goes much deeper. Prosecutor Uthmeier compiled a list of charges that call into question the safety of ChatGPT on multiple fronts.

First, there is the harm to minors. The prosecutor noted that OpenAI's technology has been linked to child sexual abuse material and the encouragement of suicide and self-harm. This is not the first time this has come to light: in September 2025, the Attorneys General of California and Delaware had already expressed similar concerns after the parents of a teenager sued OpenAI, holding it responsible for their son's suicide.

Second, there is a chilling national security dimension.

Uthmeier publicly questioned whether OpenAI's data and technologies could be falling "into the hands of America's enemies, such as the Chinese Communist Party."

OpenAI Responds and the IPO Context Complicates Everything

A company spokesperson stated that they will cooperate with Uthmeier's investigation and defended the positive impact of their product. OpenAI asserted that more than 900 million people use ChatGPT every week to improve their daily lives. The company also emphasized that they build ChatGPT to “understand people's intent and respond safely and appropriately.”

But here's a detail that complicates everything: OpenAI is in the midst of preparing for its IPO with a valuation that could reach one trillion dollars. An investigation of this magnitude comes at the worst possible time for the company's financial plans.

And if that weren't enough, OpenAI is also dealing with its own legal issues: the company recently asked the attorneys general of California and Delaware to investigate Elon Musk for alleged anticompetitive behavior.

The question that remains is enormous: can an artificial intelligence tool be legally held responsible for a crime someone commits with its help? The answer could forever change the rules of the game in Silicon Valley. For now, OpenAI has a lot to answer—and Florida is waiting.