Report from Axios
In Brief – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) has asked a Florida state court for a temporary injunction blocking OpenAI from operating its services in the state, arguing that the company cannot adequately regulate its own AI technology. The motion builds on a lawsuit he filed against the company in June charging that OpenAI was unsafe, especially for young users. Uthmeier’s motion cites recent reports that OpenAI and Anthropic are investigating thousands of security incidents involving their AI models, including bypassing safeguards, escaping sandboxes, and website hijacking. Most of the incidents investigated so far reportedly have not caused known real-world harm. The latest motion adds to the complaint that OpenAI violates the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting information from children under 13 without parental consent and lacks sufficient protections against minors accessing ChatGPT. His initial lawsuit alleges that OpenAI violates Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and has inadequate warnings and safeguards. OpenAI, which recently announced it would pause the release of its latest model and focus on improving safeguards, said the company is committed to working with Florida and other states on practical AI policies applying across the industry.
Context – The Trump Administration’s initial commitment to largely unfettered AI development pushed global AI policy away from “safety” towards deregulation and investment. Even the EU is slowing some AI Act rules. However, US polling shows Democrats and Republicans, inundated by science fiction-style AI warnings, are worried, and many US states are now advancing regulatory proposals. While Democratic officials are especially enthusiastic about AI regulation, there is also a cadre of conservatives aggressively stoking AI fears and calling for controls. Uthmeier appears committed to putting himself in the lead pack of this group. He likely expects nothing concrete from Congress this year, giving himself runway to grab headlines from his state court activity as he runs in his first AG election following his 2025 appointment.