SouthernWorldwide.com – Florida’s attorney general has initiated a criminal investigation into OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. This action follows a review of conversation logs between the AI chatbot and a Florida State University (FSU) student accused of a fatal shooting on campus last April.
Attorney General James Uthmeier stated during a press conference that his prosecutors, after examining the evidence, concluded that if a human had been on the other end of the conversation, they would have been charged with murder. The student, Phoenix Ikner, faces charges including two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder. His trial is currently slated to commence in October.
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Uthmeier detailed that the investigation found ChatGPT provided “significant advice” to the alleged shooter. This included guidance on the type of firearm to use and its effectiveness at close range.
In response, Florida is issuing subpoenas to OpenAI. These subpoenas aim to obtain records concerning the company’s policies and training materials related to user threats of self-harm or harm to others. Additionally, the state is seeking information on OpenAI’s training for cooperation with law enforcement and its procedures for reporting potential criminal activity.
An OpenAI spokesperson issued a statement to CBS News, confirming that the company had identified an account believed to be linked to Ikner and had shared it with law enforcement. The company asserted that ChatGPT “did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity.” They further explained that the bot provided factual responses based on publicly available information on the internet.
“Last year’s mass shooting at Florida State University was a tragedy, but ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime,” OpenAI stated in their release. The company emphasized its commitment to ongoing cooperation with authorities and its continuous efforts to enhance safety measures, detect malicious intent, and prevent misuse of its technology.
Chat logs, which were shared by the Florida State Attorney’s Office with CBS News, illustrate exchanges between the suspect and ChatGPT. The suspect reportedly inquired about the lethality of specific shotgun shells, the typical prison conditions for school shooters, and whether three shooting victims at FSU would attract media attention.
The suspect also reportedly asked the AI about the busiest times at the FSU student union, the location where the tragic shooting ultimately occurred.
