Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the Office of Statewide Prosecution has launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI and its artificial intelligence app, ChatGPT, following a review of chat logs between the program and the man accused of opening fire at Florida State University in April 2025.
The investigation was prompted after prosecutors reviewed conversations between ChatGPT and accused FSU shooter Phoenix Ikner prior to the attack.
Recommended Videos
“Florida is leading the way in cracking down on AI’s use in criminal behavior, and if ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing charges for murder,” Uthmeier said. “This criminal investigation will determine whether OpenAI bears criminal responsibility for ChatGPT’s actions in the shooting at Florida State University last year.”
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass also weighed in on the investigation, stressing the broader dangers of AI technology.
“It is important that all are aware of the risks of this new technology, and the harms it can and has already caused in our communities,” Glass said. “The more we can educate ourselves, the better we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities from scams, fraud, and much worse.”
What Florida law says about aiding a crime
Under Florida law, anyone who aids, abets or counsels someone in the commission of a crime — and that crime is committed or attempted — may be considered a principal to the crime. That means an “aider and abettor” can be held just as responsible as the person who carried out the act.
What prosecutors subpoenaed from OpenAI
The Office of Statewide Prosecution subpoenaed OpenAI for a range of internal documents and records. For the period of March 1, 2024, through April 17, 2026, prosecutors are seeking all policies and internal training materials related to user threats of harm to others or themselves, as well as policies governing cooperation with law enforcement — including procedures for reporting possible past, present or future crimes. If policies changed during that period, prosecutors are also requesting documentation of those changes and their effective dates.
For the dates of March 1, 2024, Oct. 1, 2024, and April 17, 2025, the subpoena requests organizational charts identifying OpenAI executives, directors, department heads and senior managers, along with a full listing of employees within ChatGPT, including their departments, titles and role descriptions.
Prosecutors also requested any and all media and public statements OpenAI released related to the FSU shooting on April 17, 2025, including press releases and media interviews.
Details From Court Records
According to records from the State Attorney’s Office, the accused gunman exchanged more than 13,000 messages with ChatGPT over more than a year.
Those conversations included topics ranging from personal struggles and relationships to questions about weapons, school shootings and how similar attacks are covered in the media.
In one exchange, just hours before the shooting, records show he asked how the country might react if a shooting happened at Florida State University.
Records also show he asked about the busiest times on campus and questions related to firearms — details that are now part of an ongoing review into what led up to the attack.
Court records indicate authorities are still examining whether the attack was planned in advance, and what role, if any, those online interactions may have played.
An OpenAI spokesperson said the company identified an account believed to be connected to the suspect and shared that information with law enforcement after the shooting.
Earlier this month, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier launched an investigation into OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT. He says he’s concerned about the potential harm its artificial intelligence products might pose to minors.
Florida’s broader push against AI-related crimes
The investigation is the latest in a series of actions Florida has taken to combat AI-related crimes. A predator who possessed child sexual abuse materials — some of which were AI-generated — was sentenced to 135 years in prison. A second child predator is currently facing 100 criminal charges, including 46 counts involving AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
In March 2026, Uthmeier joined Gov. Ron DeSantis for the signing of HB 1159, which increased the penalty for AI-generated child sexual abuse material to a second-degree felony.