TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has launched an investigation into OpenAI and its chatbot, ChatGPT, following the release of chat logs from the alleged Florida State University (FSU) shooter, Phoenix Ikner. Uthmeier claims that OpenAI’s technology has “hurt kids, endangered Americans, and facilitated the recent FSU mass shooting.”
The investigation was announced after WCTV obtained chat logs from the State’s Attorney’s office, which detail interactions between Ikner and ChatGPT. In the hours leading up to the shooting on April 17, 2025, Ikner expressed feelings of low self-worth and suicidal tendencies, before inquiring about firearms and the media coverage of mass shootings.
“AI should advance mankind, not destroy it,” Uthmeier stated on social media, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding OpenAI’s impact on society. He urged the Florida legislature to quickly implement protections to safeguard children from the potential dangers posed by artificial intelligence.
Today, we launched an investigation into OpenAI and ChatGPT.
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. pic.twitter.com/vRVCqIYKnB
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) April 9, 2026
The chat logs reveal that Ikner had asked ChatGPT about the fates of other mass shooters and whether Florida has a maximum security prison, just hours before the tragic event. Uthmeier’s comments highlight a broader concern regarding AI’s ability to collect information and how it can be misused against the American public.
In parallel to the investigation, attorneys representing a victim of the FSU mass shooting announced plans to file a lawsuit against ChatGPT. They allege that the suspected shooter maintained “constant communication” with the chatbot prior to the incident, raising questions about liability in the context of AI technology.
Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis is also advocating for accountability within the tech sector through a proposed bill called the PROTECT Act. The bill aims to establish measures to hold major technology companies responsible for their products and services, and its text was released prior to the emergence of Ikner’s ChatGPT logs.
As the investigation progresses, the implications of AI technology on public safety are likely to be scrutinized further. Uthmeier’s call for legislative action underscores a growing urgency to address the intersection of advanced technologies and societal well-being.
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