Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is asking a state court to impose new restrictions on OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. The request, filed on September 28, is part of a lawsuit Florida brought against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in June. The state alleges that ChatGPT was marketed as safe while important risks, particularly those involving children, were not adequately disclosed. OpenAI disputes those allegations.
What Florida is asking for Florida is seeking a temporary court order that would restrict OpenAI from developing new artificial intelligence models without additional independent safety oversight. The state is also asking for restrictions on minors using ChatGPT and on certain features that make the chatbot appear more human. Florida’s lawsuit also raises concerns about the collection and use of data from children under 13 without proper notice and parental consent.
Why Florida says action is needed The case focuses heavily on child safety and whether users were given enough information about potential risks associated with ChatGPT. Florida officials have also been investigating the use of ChatGPT in connection with the 2025 shooting at Florida State University. The Attorney General’s Office says conversations involving the shooter contributed to its concerns about the technology. Those claims remain part of ongoing legal and investigative proceedings.
What OpenAI says OpenAI says it takes safety concerns seriously. The company has said it paused training of its most advanced models while additional safeguards were being developed. OpenAI has also argued that governments should establish safety standards that apply across the artificial intelligence industry rather than impose rules on a single company.
What happens next The restrictions requested by Florida are not currently in effect. The Attorney General is asking the court for a temporary injunction. A judge will decide whether to grant, reject or narrow the requested measures. That means Florida has not banned ChatGPT and has not ordered OpenAI to stop developing new models.
For Florida residents, the case could eventually affect how AI services such as ChatGPT are offered to children and teenagers in the state. It also raises a broader question that governments across the country are beginning to confront: what safety rules should apply as artificial intelligence becomes more powerful and more widely used?
