Florida files lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman

The US state of Florida filed a lawsuit against technology company OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman on Monday.

The lawsuit alleges that the company knowingly released ChatGPT to the public and concealed its serious risks.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said at a press conference that OpenAI ignored internal safety warnings and misled users about the true nature and risks of the product. He said this is the first time a lawsuit has been filed against OpenAI and Sam Altman at the state level.

The complaint cites two separate shooting incidents in which the attackers allegedly sought help from ChatGPT to plan their crimes.

OpenAI issued a statement saying that its models repeatedly encouraged users to seek real-world help, particularly mental health professionals. The company also said it had fully cooperated with law enforcement in both incidents.

This case is set to spark a new debate on the potential risks of AI technology and its regulation.