Florida authorities have launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI after the gunman allegedly behind a university shooting used ChatGPT for advice.
In April 2025, a Florida State University (FSU) student allegedly opened fire on campus, killing two people and wounding six others.
This week, Florida’s Attorney-General James Uthmeier said: “If ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing charges for murder.”
An OpenAI spokesperson said: “ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime.”
Background
In April 2025, then-20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner allegedly opened fire near the university’s student union building.
Ikner is alleged to have killed two people and injured another six.
Police shot and injured Ikner, before finding two guns, including one belonging to Ikner’sstepmother, a Sheriff’s deputy.
Ikner’s trial has been delayed, with the case expected to be heard in October.
OpenAI
This week, Florida authorities determined that “a criminal investigation” into OpenAI “is necessary” as its platform, ChatGPT “offered significant advice to the shooter”.
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Uthmeier said the chatbot guided the alleged shooter on when and where to commit the offence “to encounter a higher population.”
ChatGPT also “advised the shooter on what type of gun to use,” Uthmeier said.
Response
In a statement to NBC News, OpenAI spokesperson Kate Waters called the shooting a “tragedy”, but said “ChatGPT is not responsible”.
“ChatGPT provided factual responses to questions with information that could be found broadly across... the internet.
“It did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity.”
Civil case
A separate lawsuit against OpenAI/ChatGPT was also filed this month to “hold them accountable for the untimely and senseless death” of one of the shooting victims, Robert Morales.
Lawyers for the complainant said: “The shooter was in constant communication with ChatGPT leading up to the shooting.
“We also have reason to believe that ChatGPT may have advised the shooter how to commit these heinous crimes.”
