Why are eight US states suing OpenAI?

They allege ChatGPT has caused harm to their residents, coaching its users — including teenagers — to harm themselves or others. Save Share Eight US states have filed the most significant coordinated state action against tech giant OpenAI, adding to awave of legal challengesthat the firm is facing as it prepares for a public listing. Recent legal and regulatory challenges have highlighted concerns about how AI chatbots and social media platforms are used and triggered discussions on policies for identifying and addressing user conversations that threaten violence. Calls have been growing for AI companies to be held accountable for the impact of their digital platforms on users, specifically children, who are particularly susceptible to addiction and other harms. Florida filed the first lawsuit in June, alleging that the platform has harmed children by enabling information to be gathered by school shooters, providing access to guidance on self-harm and using addictive algorithms to keep young ‌users hooked. It cited ashooting at Florida State Universityin Tallahassee in April 2025, when a 20-year-old gunman shot dead two adults and wounded five others. According to the lawsuit, gunman Phoenix Ikner consulted OpenAI’s ChatGPT programme about what type of weapon and ammunition to use and at what time campus would be busiest. On Wednesday, attorneys general from eight states – Iowa, Kansas, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and West ⁠Virginia – said they had also sued OpenAI in courts across the country. They all claim ChatGPT has caused harm to their residents, alleging the chatbot has coached its users – including teenagers – to harm themselves or others. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said in a statement that OpenAI was “hurting kids and they are lying to Iowans.” “OpenAI claims ChatGPT is safe while it’s giving dangerous medical advice, encouraging people to hurt others, and coaching people to commit suicide—all while pretending to be their fake friend,” she said. West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey said the chatbot lacks adequate safeguards for sensitive conversations involving suicide, school shootings and self-harm. “We must do all we can to protect kids,” McCuskey said. The legal action alleges that ChatGPT has been designed to be “agreeable and engaging to earn ⁠the trust of users”. In doing so, it reinforces delusions, encourages dangerous behaviour and assists users in planning violence like mass shootings....