Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joins 'Varney & Co.' to discuss the federal lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging ChatGPT endangers children and lacks adequate safeguards.
Legal pressure is mounting on OpenAI as Florida conducts civil and criminal investigations that state officials say could expose the company to billions of dollars in damages.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined FOX Business' Stuart Varney on “Varney & Co.” to discuss the Florida lawsuit against OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and what he described as evidence that the platform poses risks to children without strong safeguards.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI Inc., speaks during BlackRock's 2026 Infrastructure Summit in Washington, DC. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
The case comes as lawmakers and regulators across the country debate how artificial intelligence should be regulated, especially as young users increasingly turn to AI chatbots for companionship, advice and information.
Uthmeier said the Florida investigation found examples of dangerous interactions involving ChatGPT and said the company failed to implement adequate child protection.
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“Our evidence shows many examples of ChatGPT being used to encourage, help and assist individuals, including children, in finding ways to harm themselves, commit suicide, violently attack, and even kill other people… We will hold them accountable,” said Uthmeier.
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Uthmeier also pointed to the 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University, saying investigators found evidence that the suspect used ChatGPT while planning the attack. The allegations are part of a broader debate in Florida as it seeks more oversight of AI platforms.
“The FSU shooter, we know for sure, was discussing with ChatGPT what guns to use, what guns to use, what time of day to attack when he could meet as many people as possible on campus,” said AG Uthmeier.
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That concern has led Florida officials to push for stricter age verification requirements and more protections for young users. Uthmeier compared the issue to Florida's recent efforts to limit access to social media to children under 16, arguing AI platforms may need similar protections.
FOX Business' Cheryl Casone reports that Florida is suing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman alleging the company is putting profits before the safety of children.
“What we want is to change the systems to ensure that children cannot access this platform without parental control,” said Uthmeier.
Uthmeier said Florida is seeking significant financial penalties and platform changes, adding that OpenAI “could be exposed for potentially billions in damages here in the state of Florida.”
OpenAI has pushed back on claims that ChatGPT encourages harmful behavior, instead pointing to security features designed to limit harmful content and provide more protection for young users.
OpenAI did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
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