Florida pursues aggressive regulation of artificial intelligence

Florida is emerging as a significant regulator of artificial intelligence and major technology platforms. Led by Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier, the state is utilizing litigation and proposed safeguards to challenge the federal government’s preference for lighter oversight.

Key actions include a criminal investigation opened in April following communications between ChatGPT and a suspect in a 2025 shooting at Florida State University. Additionally, Florida filed a civil lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging the company released an unsafe product that facilitates violence and self-harm. These allegations remain claims and have not been established as findings of liability.

In September, the state sought a temporary injunction to prevent OpenAI from developing new models without stringent safety safeguards. OpenAI has stated it supports working with states on pragmatic policies but maintains its platform is not responsible for the criminal acts of users.