Florida launches criminal investigation into ChatGPT's alleged link to FSU shooting

The attorney general of Florida announced on Tuesday that a criminal investigation has commenced involving OpenAI. 

This occurred following the examination of chat logs between its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, and a Florida State University student implicated in an April campus shooting that resulted in the death of two individuals and multiple injuries.

"My legal team reviewed this, and if a person had been on the other end, we'd be looking at murder charges," remarked Attorney General James Uthmeier at a news briefing on Tuesday. 

The suspect, Phoenix Ikner, has denied charges of two first-degree murder counts and seven attempted murder charges. The trial is set to start in October, according to court documents.

Uthmeier mentioned that his team found ChatGPT provided "noteworthy advice" to the accused, suggesting which firearm to acquire and assessing its effectiveness at close range.

He noted that Florida is serving subpoenas to OpenAI to obtain documentation related to the company's protocols and training materials concerning user threats towards themselves or others, alongside guidelines on collaboration with authorities and reporting potential criminal activities.

An OpenAI representative stated to CBS News on Tuesday that they had flagged an account assumed to be linked to Ikner and shared the details with law enforcement.

The company emphasised that ChatGPT did not "promote or encourage unlawful or harmful actions" and simply relayed factual answers using publicly available online information.

"Last year’s tragic shooting at Florida State University was devastating, though ChatGPT is not at fault for this horrendous incident," OpenAI expressed in their statement.

The organisation committed to ongoing cooperation with law enforcement while striving to enhance safeguards, recognizing dangerous intent, and mitigating misuse.

According to records released by the Florida State Attorney's Office to CBS News, the logs depict conversations wherein Ikner inquired about the deadliness of specific shotgun ammunition, the incarceration conditions for school shooters, and the potential media coverage of the FSU incident victims.

He also sought information from the bot regarding the peak times at the FSU student union, the scene of the tragic event.