OpenAI Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged ChatGPT Role in Florida State University Shooting

Mintesinot Niggusie

OpenAI has been sued in a U.S. federal court by the family of a man killed in the 2025 Florida State University shooting, alleging that ChatGPT contributed to the planning of the attack.

The lawsuit claims ChatGPT functioned as a “co-conspirator” by providing information that assisted Phoenix Ikner in planning the attack. It alleges Ikner engaged the system in conversations about mass shootings and weapon lethality.

OpenAI rejected the claims. Spokesperson Drew Pusateri said: “Last year’s mass shooting at Florida State University was a tragedy, but ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime.” He added that the chatbot provided factual responses and did not promote illegal activity.

Authorities say Ikner shot and killed two people and injured four others before being shot by police. Florida prosecutors have opened an investigation into ChatGPT’s role after reviewing chat logs. OpenAI says its models are trained to refuse requests that enable violence.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, arguing that OpenAI designed a defective product and failed to warn users about foreseeable risks associated with AI interactions.