The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, claiming the company knowingly released and aggressively marketed ChatGPT to the public while concealing serious risks. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Monday that the company suppressed internal safety warnings and deceived users about the true nature and dangers of the product. The lawsuit mentioned two recent criminal cases in which the suspects allegedly used OpenAI to plan the attacks. OpenAI says its models repeatedly encouraged the individuals to seek real-world support, including from mental health professionals. The company also says it has cooperated with law enforcement in both cases.
By RYAN J. FOLEY, MICHAEL BIESECKER and MORGAN LEE Associated Press
Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees are taking their own lives at a pace that's unprecedented in the agency's two-decade history, highlighting what experts call failures in care and oversight. An Associated Press investigation finds that at least 10 ICE detainees have died by suicide since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025 and ordered ICE to increase arrests and deportations. That includes seven deaths since October, already the most in one fiscal year with several months remaining. The increased pace of suicides exceeds the growth in ICE's detainee population. The deaths happened at detention facilities operated by private contractors and local jails run by sheriffs. All were men, and most were Hispanic.
By MATT O'BRIEN and BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writers
A study finds that AI chatbots often avoid answering high-risk suicide questions but are inconsistent with less direct prompts. Published Tuesday in the journal Psychiatric Services, the study highlights the need for improvement in chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. Researchers from RAND Corporation emphasize the importance of setting benchmarks for how AI handles mental health queries. Concerns arise as more people, including children, rely on these tools for support. The study coincides with a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT contributed to a California teenager's suicide. Researchers urge companies to enhance safety measures.
Three new studies highlight the severe health impacts of recent wildfires on Maui and in Los Angeles. Researchers found that the August 2023 Maui fire, one of the deadliest in a century, left 1 in 5 people with lung damage and half with symptoms of depression. The fire also nearly doubled suicide and overdose death rates. In Los Angeles, a study found over 400 deaths linked to the fires due to health care disruptions and other factors. Experts say these findings emphasize the broader health risks of extreme climate events. The studies were published Wednesday in two American Medical Association journals.
By MATT O'BRIEN and BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writers
New research from a watchdog group reveals ChatGPT can provide harmful advice to teens. The Associated Press reviewed interactions where the chatbot gave detailed plans for drug use, eating disorders and even suicide notes. The Center for Countering Digital Hate found that testing ChatGPT with harmful prompts led the chatbot to respond in dangerous ways more than half the time. The study highlights the risks as more people, particularly teens, turn to AI for companionship and advice. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, said after viewing the findings that its "work is ongoing" in refining "how models identify and respond appropriately in sensitive situations."
