The idea of prosecuting the creators or operators of artificial intelligence is no longer considered mere science fiction. In the United States, a Florida prosecutor recently paved the way for this possibility after a deadly shooting at a university, where the suspect allegedly used ChatGPT to plan his attack.
According to US investigators, the student involved in the attack communicated with the chatbot about weapons, ammunition, and locations to maximize casualties. Prosecutor James Uthmeier stated that if "that thing on the other side of the screen was a person," it could be prosecuted for homicide. He did not rule out taking legal action against OpenAI or some of its employees.
A legal debate that has become global
This case reignites a growing debate surrounding the responsibility of companies developing generative artificial intelligence systems. Several legal experts, however, believe that a civil procedure would currently be more realistic than a direct criminal conviction of the AI itself, as current law primarily targets the companies and individuals behind these technologies.
In Europe, discussions surrounding the regulation of AI are intensifying with the gradual implementation of the AI Act, which already imposes stricter obligations on companies developing systems deemed sensitive or high-risk. Transparency, human oversight, and legal accountability are increasingly becoming central issues in the face of the growing influence of these tools in society.
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