ChatGPT linked to mass killing plan? US opens investigation into OpenAI
ChatGPT accused of aiding terrorism (photo: Getty Images)
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced plans to investigate OpenAI over ChatGPT’s alleged role in a fatal shooting. Lawyers for one of the victims say ChatGPT was used to plan the attack, according to TechCrunch.
Position of US authorities
“AI 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. Wrongdoers must be held accountable,” Uthmeier said.
The prosecutor also added that subpoenas are being prepared as part of the investigation.
Links to violence and “AI psychosis”
ChatGPT has been linked to a growing number of deaths, including murders and suicides. Psychologists point to the so-called “AI psychosis” — delusional thinking that is reinforced or deepened through interactions with chatbots.
A notable example is the case of Stein-Erik Solberg, who regularly interacted with ChatGPT before killing his mother and himself. A Wall Street Journal investigation found that the bot often validated and reinforced the man’s paranoid thoughts before the crime.
OpenAI response
The company said it will cooperate with the investigation but emphasized the usefulness of its product.
“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,” the developers of the popular AI said.
Internal company issues
The investigation adds to a series of setbacks for OpenAI. A recent New Yorker article highlighted dissatisfaction among investors.
“I think there’s a small but real chance he’s eventually remembered as a Bernie Madoff- or Sam Bankman-Fried-level scammer,” said one Microsoft executive.
In addition, the company was forced to pause one of its major projects in the UK due to high energy costs.
Florida shooting – what is known
The tragedy occurred on April 17, 2025, on the campus of Florida State University (FSU). A 21-year-old Phoenix Ikner opened fire on people, killing two individuals: 57-year-old Robert Morales and a 45-year-old South Carolina resident, Tiru Chabba.
Chabba was a father and was in the state on a military assignment. Five other people were injured to varying degrees in the incident.
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