By Elias Schisgall


Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier launched an investigation into OpenAI and its ChatGPT models, citing national security risks and the possibility that ChatGPT helped facilitate a shooting at Florida State University.

In a video posted to X, Uthmeier raised concerns that OpenAI's models or data could be used by adversaries of America, namely China. He added that ChatGPT has been linked to criminal behavior including child sex abuse material.

Uthmeier also said that ChatGPT may have been used to assist a suspected gunman who authorities said killed two people at FSU in April. Attorneys for one of the victims said in a statement earlier this week that the shooter may have been in "constant communication" with ChatGPT before the shooting.

"Subpoenas are forthcoming," Uthmeier said in the video.

OpenAI said it intends to cooperate with Uthmeier's investigation.

"Each week, more than 900 million people use ChatGPT to improve their daily lives through uses such as learning new skills or navigating complex healthcare systems," an OpenAI spokesperson said. "Our ongoing safety work continues to play an important role in delivering these benefits to everyday people, as well as supporting scientific research and discovery. We build ChatGPT to understand people's intent and respond in a safe and appropriate way, and we continue improving our technology."

Uthmeier said on X that artificial intelligence tools 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," he said. "Wrongdoers must be held accountable."

He also called on Florida's state legislature to implement protections for children using AI, and to further empower the attorney general's office to go after AI companies.

News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.


Write to Elias Schisgall at elias.schisgall@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

04-09-26 1700ET