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Tue, 21 Apr 2026

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 OpenAI faces criminal probe over role of ChatGPT in shooting

The firm, co-founded by Sam Altman, said it is "not responsible" for the attack at Florida State University
A US criminal investigation has been launched against OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT AI chatbot, over its potential role in a mass shooting at Florida State University last year that resulted in two fatalities. According to Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier, his office discovered that the shooter had interacted with ChatGPT before committing the crimes, and the bot provided advice on gun types and ammunition as well as suggesting optimal times and locations for encounters. The investigation is focused on determining whether OpenAI can be held criminally liable for its role in facilitating the shooting. An OpenAI spokesperson stated that the company has cooperated fully with authorities and proactively shared information about the suspect's ChatGPT account, while also asserting that the chatbot did not encourage or promote illegal activity. The investigation marks a significant escalation of scrutiny on OpenAI and AI technology more broadly, which has come under increasing criticism for potential safety risks and lack of regulation. The company is already facing a lawsuit over another incident in which its chatbot may have been involved, and this latest development raises questions about the limits of liability for companies that create and deploy AI technologies.