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Florida Attorney General Launches Investigation Into OpenAI and ChatGPT

By  |  April 9, 2026

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Thursday that his office has opened an investigation into OpenAI and its widely used chatbot, ChatGPT, raising concerns about the technology’s potential risks to public safety and children.

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    The move marks one of the most direct state-level actions targeting the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector. According to Reuters, the investigation seeks to examine whether the company’s products may have contributed to harm, including risks to minors and broader public safety concerns.

    In a statement shared on X, Uthmeier wrote: “Today, we launched an investigation into OpenAI and ChatGPT.”

    He added, “AI should advance mankind, not destroy it. We’re demanding answers on OpenAI’s activities that have hurt kids, endangered Americans, and facilitated the recent FSU mass shooting.”

    Related: Elon Musk Seeks Billions in Damages From OpenAI and Microsoft as Legal Fight Heads to Trial

    The attorney general further emphasized accountability, stating, “Wrongdoers must be held accountable.”

    Per Reuters, Uthmeier’s office is focusing on whether artificial intelligence tools have been misused or inadequately safeguarded, particularly in ways that could expose vulnerable populations to harm. The reference to a recent mass shooting has heightened the urgency surrounding the inquiry, though specific details about how AI may have been involved were not immediately clarified.

    The investigation comes amid growing scrutiny of AI companies worldwide, as policymakers grapple with balancing innovation and regulation.

    Source: Reuters