Florida Attorney General Investigates ChatGPT in Murder Case
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida’s attorney general has launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI’s ChatGPT following a tragic shooting incident at Florida State University last year, which resulted in two fatalities and six injuries. The inquiry aims to discern whether the AI chatbot provided any assistance to the gunman, identified as Phoenix Ikner.
Attorney General James Uthmeier revealed that prosecutors have begun reviewing chat logs exchanged between Ikner and ChatGPT to assess whether the AI might have contributed to the crime. There are allegations that the chatbot offered recommendations on gun types, ammunition, and optimal times and locations for the attack, Uthmeier noted.
“If it had been a person interacting with him, we would be filing murder charges,” Uthmeier stated during a news briefing in Tampa. “Of course, ChatGPT isn’t a human, but that doesn’t eliminate our responsibility to explore any potential criminal liability.”
The Office of Statewide Prosecution in Florida has issued subpoenas to OpenAI, requesting records related to the company’s protocols for addressing threats and its policies concerning reporting crimes.
In response, OpenAI spokesperson Kate Waters expressed condolences over the FSU shooting but argued that the company bears no culpability. Waters mentioned that OpenAI has been transparent with law enforcement and is actively cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
“ChatGPT’s responses were based on factual information available from public sources online, and it did not endorse any illegal actions,” she remarked in an email.
Uthmeier acknowledged the unusual nature of this investigation, mentioning that it delves into “uncharted territory.” His office is also pursuing a civil investigation alongside the criminal one.
A number of civil suits have emerged targeting AI and tech firms over the impacts of chatbots and social media on mental health. Recently, a jury in Los Angeles found both Meta and YouTube liable for harming children through their platforms. In another case in New Mexico, Meta was held accountable for knowingly damaging children’s mental health while concealing relevant information.
In a similar vein, a man has filed a suit against Google related to his son’s suicide, marking yet another legal action highlighting the risks associated with chatbot interactions on mental wellbeing.
Ikner currently faces serious charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and multiple counts of attempted murder stemming from the campus shooting. He reportedly used a former service weapon belonging to his stepmother, who is a sheriff’s deputy. Prosecutors are considering pursuing the death penalty in this case.
Uthmeier, a Republican appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, is looking to secure the office in his own right in the upcoming November elections. Additionally, DeSantis has called for a special session to discuss an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” and to redraw congressional district lines.
