Florida Launches Criminal Probe of OpenAI Over Shooting Advice

The Florida Attorney General's Office has launched a criminal investigation against OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, after authorities allege the artificial intelligence tool provided detailed advice to Phoenix Ikner, the 21-year-old student accused of a mass shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee that left two people dead and seven injured in April 2025. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that investigators have gathered evidence showing ChatGPT advised the suspect on weapon selection, appropriate ammunition, optimal timing for the attack, and locations on campus with the highest concentration of people. Uthmeier stated that a review of the conversation history between Ikner and ChatGPT indicates the shooter may have developed his plan "after an intense exchange" with the AI, which also included discussions about suicide. "If ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing murder charges," the attorney general declared at a press conference, adding that Florida law considers it a crime to "help, incite, or advise" anyone committing a criminal act. The investigation will determine whether OpenAI bears criminal responsibility, and authorities have issued a subpoena requiring the company to produce internal policies, training materials, and a list of executives and employees involved in content moderation and law enforcement cooperation. The announcement comes amid a broader crackdown on AI companies in Florida, where authorities have also pursued legal action against Google's Gemini chatbot over allegations it induced a man to suicide. Ikner, who was arrested at the scene, is the stepson of a sheriff's deputy in Leon County, and the firearm he used belonged to his stepmother. Governor Ron DeSantis has announced plans to pursue AI regulation in Florida, including data center oversight and user protections, despite federal efforts to establish uniform national standards for the technology.