Florida's attorney general, James Uthmeier, has announced an expansion of the criminal investigation into potential links between ChatGPT and recent homicides in the state. This probe now includes two recent tragic deaths at South Florida University and a previous incident at Florida State University on April 17, 2025, where two individuals died and six others were injured.
As part of the investigation, interactions between the primary suspect, Hisham Abugharbieh, and the chatbot have been scrutinized. Reports indicate that Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT about the consequences of being placed in a dumpster, raising concerns about the chatbot's potential influence on his actions. Uthmeier's office is looking into whether OpenAI could be held liable for the crimes, following claims that the suspect was in "constant communication" with the AI prior to the incidents.
The investigation began earlier this month and is part of a broader inquiry into how AI technologies might relate to criminal behavior. Uthmeier made the announcement via a post on X, indicating that the inquiry is evolving as more information comes to light regarding the suspect's engagement with ChatGPT.