Florida’s Attorney General is investigating whether OpenAI’s ChatGPT provided assistance to the shooter in the April 2025 Florida State University shooting.
Shooting and Investigation
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced an investigation into ChatGPT and its creator, OpenAI, following an analysis of conversations between the chatbot and Phoenix Ikner, the perpetrator of the shooting at Florida State University (FSU).
The shooting in April 2025 resulted in two deaths and six injuries. Ikner, a 20-year-old student, is currently in custody and awaiting trial on charges of murder and attempted murder.
ChatGPT’s Role
According to Uthmeier, ChatGPT’s responses suggest it offered significant assistance to the shooter before the crime. The messages included inquiries about weapon firepower and ammunition selection.
During a press conference, Uthmeier emphasized the strength of the evidence, stating that if a human had provided the same information, they would face murder charges.
OpenAI’s Response
OpenAI stated it is cooperating with authorities but denies responsibility for the tragedy, asserting that ChatGPT is not liable for the shooting.
The company claims the system only provided responses based on publicly available information and did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful actions.
Further Inquiries and Legal Precedent
Ikner reportedly questioned ChatGPT on the day of the attack about potential societal reactions to a shooting and peak traffic times near a student dormitory.
Uthmeier announced a parallel civil proceeding to assess OpenAI’s potential liability. He acknowledged that pursuing criminal charges against a company presents a novel legal challenge, requiring determination of whether individuals were sufficiently involved in the system’s design, management, and operation to warrant criminal responsibility.