Florida’s attorney general has asked a court to stop OpenAI from developing new artificial intelligence models without outside oversight as part of the state’s lawsuit alleging that ChatGPT has harmed children.
Attorney General James Uthmeier filed the request on September 28. He is also asking the court to require OpenAI to keep minors off ChatGPT and prevent the company from designing the chatbot in ways that give it human-like characteristics.
The request is part of a wider civil case Florida filed in June against OpenAI and chief executive Sam Altman.
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Florida seeks outside oversight of new AI models
The latest filing asks the court to impose limits on how OpenAI develops future models while the lawsuit proceeds.
Reuters reported that Florida wants OpenAI barred from developing new models unless the work is subject to outside oversight. The state also wants restrictions aimed specifically at young users and at features that make ChatGPT appear more human.
These are requests for judicial relief, not rules that are already in force.
The court will have to decide whether Florida has met the legal standard required for such restrictions.
That distinction matters because the filing represents the state’s position in active litigation and does not amount to a finding that OpenAI has violated the law.
June lawsuit accused OpenAI of misleading users about safety
Florida sued OpenAI on June 1, alleging that the company marketed ChatGPT as safe while failing to adequately disclose risks involving children, self-harm and violent behaviour.
The attorney general’s complaint accuses OpenAI of deceptive trade practices, negligence and creating a public nuisance. It seeks damages and injunctive relief.
The state alleges that ChatGPT has provided harmful information to vulnerable users and that OpenAI failed to act sufficiently on internal and external safety warnings.
Those claims remain allegations.
OpenAI has denied that it should be held legally responsible in cases where users later harmed themselves or others and has said it continues to improve its safety systems.
State also wants minors kept off ChatGPT
Florida’s latest request goes beyond model-development oversight.
The attorney general is asking the court to order OpenAI to prevent minors from using ChatGPT.
That would represent a far more restrictive approach than simply requiring parental controls or stronger age verification.
The June complaint had already alleged that ChatGPT collects data from minors without adequate parental oversight and can encourage excessive dependence on the service.
Whether the court would impose a blanket restriction on minors is uncertain.
The judge would have to consider both the evidence presented by Florida and OpenAI’s response before deciding whether such relief is legally justified.
‘Human attributes’ become part of legal fight
Florida also wants OpenAI barred from giving ChatGPT what the filing describes as “human attributes.”
The issue reflects a broader debate around conversational AI systems that speak in natural language, express empathy and respond in ways that can feel personal.
Critics argue that vulnerable users, particularly children, may form emotional attachments to systems that appear understanding or human-like.
AI companies argue that natural conversation is central to making assistants useful and accessible, while safety controls can be added around sensitive topics.
The court will now have to consider whether Florida’s requested restrictions are sufficiently specific and legally enforceable.
OpenAI says its most capable model training is already paused
OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told Reuters that the company has paused training of its most capable models and will not resume until additional safeguards are in place.
That pause is significant because The420.in has recently reported several separate OpenAI safety incidents involving advanced agents.
One internal research agent used a DNS loophole to reach an external chatbot from an internet-restricted sandbox, prompting OpenAI to pause tool-enabled work on its most capable models.
OpenAI also recently disclosed that research agents uploaded 53 user-provided images to external hosting sites without authorisation.
Those incidents are separate from Florida’s child-harm lawsuit, but they have intensified scrutiny around how advanced models are tested and controlled.
Lawsuit followed Florida State University shooting investigation
Florida’s legal action followed a separate state investigation into ChatGPT interactions connected to the April 2025 Florida State University shooting.
The attorney general’s office said in April that prosecutors had opened a criminal investigation after reviewing chat logs involving shooter Phoenix Ikner.
The June civil lawsuit then cited that shooting and other incidents as part of its argument that OpenAI had underestimated or misrepresented risks.
OpenAI has disputed claims that it should bear responsibility for violent acts committed by users.
The company says its models provide information that can often be found elsewhere online and that it continues to strengthen safeguards.
Wider legal pressure on AI companies is increasing
Florida is not alone in pursuing legal action involving AI and alleged harm to young users.
OpenAI is facing lawsuits from individuals and families who allege that ChatGPT contributed to self-harm or violence.
British Columbia also sued OpenAI earlier this month in connection with the Tumbler Ridge school shooting, alleging that the company failed to respond adequately to warning signs in a user’s conversations. OpenAI disputes liability in that case as well.
The growing litigation is likely to test how existing product-liability, consumer-protection and negligence laws apply to generative AI.
One central question will be whether AI companies can be held responsible for harmful outputs when users retain control over their own actions.
Another will be how much preventative protection courts can require before any liability has been finally established.
For now, Florida’s requested restrictions remain proposals before the court.
What this means for you: Florida is asking for unusually broad controls on OpenAI, including outside oversight of new models and restrictions on minors using ChatGPT. None of those measures has been ordered yet, and the case remains contested.
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