Florida vs. OpenAI: calls to rein in AI models and keep minors off ChatGPT

Florida’s attorney general asked a judge today to bar OpenAI from developing new artificial intelligence models without outside oversight, as part of a lawsuit against the company alleging it harms children.

The state sued OpenAI last June, accusing it of misleading authorities about the safety of the ChatGPT platform and alleging it has harmed children by giving information to people who then carried out gun attacks, instructing others to harm themselves, or causing addiction among young users.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also asked the court to order OpenAI to keep minors away from ChatGPT and to bar the company from adding “human-like features” to its conversational platform.

Drew Puzzateri, an OpenAI spokesperson, said in a statement that the company has temporarily paused training of its “smartest” models and will not resume until additional safeguards are put in place.

“Governments play an important role in setting strong safety standards for artificial intelligence, and we are committed to working with Florida and other states to advance realistic policies that apply to the entire artificial intelligence industry, not just one company,” he added.

“The defendants claim they cannot stop their boundless pursuit of civilization-destroying activities unless forced to do so by the government,” Florida wrote in Monday’s filing. “They have asked the government to tie them to the mast.”

Uthmeier, a Republican, is the first state attorney general to take action against OpenAI over its impact on young users. The company also faces lawsuits from individuals and families who say ChatGPT pushed people to harm themselves or others.

The lawsuit was prompted by gun shootings at a university in Tallahassee and several incidents in other states where ChatGPT is alleged to have given information to people who then committed violent acts. The company has denied any responsibility in these cases. It has said the chatbot provides information that is widely available online and that it continues to update its safety tools.