Family sues OpenAI, claims ChatGPT helped plan FSU shooting
The family of victim Tiru Chabba is suing OpenAI over its alleged role in the FSU mass shooting
A lawsuit filed in federal court names tech giant OpenAI and the alleged shooter, Phoenix Ikner. It claims the chatbot, ChatGPT, acted as a co-conspirator in the horrific 2025 attack on Florida State University.
The suit alleges Ikner planned the massacre using the AI, discussing his weapons and asking when the student union was busiest. The family claims the chatbot never flagged the conversations to authorities and is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.
OpenAI has forcefully denied its technology is to blame. "Last year's mass shooting at Florida State University was a tragedy, but ChatGPT is not responsible," said spokesperson Drew Pusateri.
The company insists its AI only provided factual responses with public information and "did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity." It also proactively shared Ikner's suspected account with law enforcement after the shooting.
The attack saw Ikner kill two people and wound five others. The alleged shooter was shot by police before being taken into custody and has pleaded not guilty to murder.
The civil suit comes after Florida's Attorney General, James Uthmeier, announced a separate criminal investigation into ChatGPT, stating the AI could face murder charges if it were a person.
This is not the first such lawsuit against OpenAI. In Canada, families alleged the company knew a shooter was planning an attack via ChatGPT but failed to alert police.