Florida AG sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman over ChatGPT harms

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Monday filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that the artificial intelligence company knowingly released an unsafe product that could harm users.

The 83-page complaint claims that OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot has aided and abetted mass shooters in "deadly rampages," driven vulnerable people to suicide, harmed users' critical thinking skills and caused minors to become addicted to the tool, which "feigns human compassion."

"This litany of harms is driven by Defendants' insatiable quest to win the AI arms race and amass large fortunes, despite knowing the danger of ChatGPT," the filing said.

With the lawsuit, Uthmeier's office is seeking to hold Altman personally liable for the alleged harm he has caused to Florida residents because of his conduct as CEO, including his "utter disregard for the risk to human life," according to the complaint. It is also seeking to force OpenAI to comply with obligations under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

OpenAI did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Uthmeier's lawsuit is the latest example of OpenAI's mounting legal woes.

The company is being sued by seven families of the victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, which took place in Canada in February.

The families allege that the attacker used OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot to plan the attack, and that the company did not do anything to stop it.

Altman apologized to the Tumbler Ridge community in an April letter, writing that "no one should ever have to endure a tragedy like this."

OpenAI is also facing a number of wrongful death lawsuits, which allege that ChatGPT drove users to experience harmful delusions and, in some cases, to commit suicide.

The company said in August that it is "continuing to improve how our models recognize and respond to signs of mental and emotional distress," and it launched several new safety features, including parental controls.

Last month, OpenAI was embroiled in another high-profile lawsuit with Elon Musk, who sued the company, Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, alleging they went back on their commitment to keep its nonprofit structure and follow its charitable mission.

After a three-week-long trial that featured dramatic testimony from Musk, Altman and Brockman, an advisory jury deliberated and decided that Musk waited too long to sue.

The verdict was immediately adopted by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in federal court in Oakland, California.

Musk called the decision a "calendar technicality" in a post on his social network X.

If you are having suicidal thoughts or are in distress, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor.

WATCH: OpenAI’s anticipated IPO gives retail investors opportunity: Redpoint’s Brescia