ChatGPT encouraged FSU shooter, victim’s family alleges in new lawsuit

The family of a victim from the tragic Florida State University mass shooting has initiated legal action against OpenAI, asserting that ChatGPT significantly contributed to the alleged shooter's disturbed mindset prior to the incident. Filed in Tallahassee, this lawsuit comes on the heels of a criminal investigation launched by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, examining whether OpenAI could be held criminally liable for the shooting. The complaint centers around Phoenix Ikner, accused of killing Tiru Chabba and another person in April 2025. According to the lawsuit, Ikner reportedly engaged with ChatGPT thousands of times leading up to the shooting. Allegations state that the chatbot assisted him in strategizing the attack, including weapon operation and timing his actions for maximum campus traffic. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that ChatGPT provided a sense of validation for Ikner's delusional thoughts. Six additional individuals were injured in the shooting, and Ikner has pleaded not guilty; his trial is scheduled for October. The Chabba family is pursuing claims of wrongful death, gross negligence, and product liability, among others. The lawsuit argues that OpenAI's system perpetuated Ikner's harmful narrative by remaining engaged in his conversations, which created a foreseeable risk to public safety. "ChatGPT’s design allowed for an environment that could lead to harmful outcomes that were not adequately addressed," the complaint asserts. The family is seeking unspecified damages and is advocating for OpenAI to implement stronger safety measures for ChatGPT. Attorney Amy Willbanks emphasized the need for regulations to manage potential dangers before they reach the public, stating, "We cannot have a product that is unregulated and used by individuals when its implications are not fully understood." In response, OpenAI expressed its condolences regarding the FSU shooting but denied responsibility. A spokesperson for the company, Drew Pusateri, stated that ChatGPT provided factual information without promoting any illegal activities. He reiterated the company’s commitment to enhancing safeguards against misuse and harmful intent. OpenAI has been actively working to train ChatGPT to identify conversations that could pose threats or harm and has protocols for human review in flagged cases. The company is currently facing at least ten lawsuits from families alleging harm resulting from interactions with ChatGPT. Notably, a group of families affected by a school shooting in Canada recently filed a lawsuit, claiming OpenAI's chatbot played a role in the tragic events. This situation follows a public apology from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to the Tumbler Ridge community in British Columbia, where a school shooting occurred, after it was revealed that the shooter had communicated with ChatGPT prior to the attack. In that incident, eight victims, including six children, lost their lives before the shooter took their own life.