Florida School Shooting: ChatGPT Investigated in Connection to Alleged Norwegian Mass Shooting – Nettavisen

Florida’s attorney general has launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI and its ChatGPT chatbot over allegations that the accused gunman in a mass shooting at Florida State University used the AI to help plan the attack.

Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the investigation on April 9, 2026, stating that his office had reviewed conversation logs between ChatGPT and Phoenix Ikner, the 20-year-old FSU student accused of killing two people and injuring six others in a shooting on campus in April 2025.

According to Uthmeier, prosecutors determined that if a human had provided the same advice as ChatGPT did to Ikner, they would face murder charges. He said the chatbot offered “significant advice” on the type of gun to use, suitable ammunition and timing to maximize casualties on campus.

The investigation includes subpoenas for OpenAI’s records regarding policies and training materials for handling user threats, cooperation with law enforcement, and crime reporting procedures. Uthmeier emphasized that innovation does not grant companies immunity from endangering public safety or facilitating criminal activity.

OpenAI has maintained that ChatGPT is not responsible for the shooting. A company spokesperson told NPR that the chatbot provided only factual responses based on publicly available information and did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity. The company said it shared information about the alleged shooter’s account with law enforcement after the incident and continues to cooperate with authorities.

Ikner has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled to begin in October 2026, according to court records cited by CBS News.

The attorney general’s office also cited broader concerns about AI’s potential misuse, referencing links between ChatGPT and child sexual abuse material, as well as its use in encouraging suicide and self-harm, as part of the rationale for the investigation.

A lawsuit is also being prepared by the widow of one of the victims, Robert Morales, who was killed in the shooting. Her attorney told the Tallahassee Democrat that legal action against ChatGPT will be filed “very soon” in connection with the incident.

The criminal investigation represents one of the first major legal actions in the United States targeting an AI company over allegations that its product directly assisted in planning a violent crime.