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By Steve Mollman
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, a Republican and political ally of President Donald Trump, is seeking a court order that would bar OpenAI from advancing new AI models without third-party-approved safety protections, escalating a legal battle as Trump pushes back against calls to slow artificial intelligence and dismisses some concerns about the technology as a "hoax."
Uthmeier announced Monday that Florida had asked a court for a temporary injunction against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, arguing the company's AI products pose risks to consumers and children and should be subject to new restrictions while the case proceeds. The motion is part of a lawsuit Florida filed against OpenAI and Altman in June. Trump has repeatedly endorsed Uthmeier, most recently giving him his "Complete and Total Endorsement" and saying he "stands for everything MAGA."
"Four months ago, Florida filed the first state-led lawsuit in the nation against OpenAI and Sam Altman," Uthmeier said in a video posted on X on Monday. "We said ChatGPT was unsafe, deceptive, and already harming Floridians, especially our children."
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He added: "Today, we asked the court for a new temporary injunction. No new model development without independent safety guardrails. No more harvesting children's data. No more calling this product safe, accurate or reliable. No more pretending it's human. No more tricks designed to keep users talking past the point of danger."
The proposed injunction would also cut off minors' access to ChatGPT and require third-party-approved safety protections before OpenAI could advance new AI models.
The request comes as OpenAI argues it has already taken additional steps to address AI safety concerns. In comments provided to Newsweek, the company said it recently launched "ChatGPT for Teens," which it said includes additional safeguards, parental controls and other protections for users under 18.
Newsweek reached out to the Uthmeier and the White House for comment on Monday.
Trump's AI Push
The move comes amid a growing debate over AI safety that has split technology leaders, policymakers and regulators.
While executives including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have recently expressed support for stronger safeguards around advanced AI systems, Trump has repeatedly argued that fears surrounding AI have been exaggerated and that the United States should avoid regulations that could slow development.
During a recent appearance at the All-In Summit, Trump dismissed warnings that AI could eventually pose an existential threat.
"The robots are not going to be taking over the world. The AI will not be taking over the rest of the world. The whole thing is a hoax," Trump said.
In a separate Truth Social post, Trump wrote that concerns about AI "taking over the world" and "destroying Humanity" were a "HOAX."
"The AI Hoax being perpetrated by the Radical Left Dumocrats is reminiscent of their Global Warming Scam of not so long ago," Trump wrote.
The president has also opposed new AI guardrails, arguing that the technology should continue developing rapidly as the United States competes with China.
"We're leading China in AI. And frankly, I want to keep it that way because whoever wins AI, wins," Trump said earlier this month.
Trump later announced plans to create an "AI Force" and appoint an AI "czar," while stating that the administration would "not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry."
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OpenAI Responds
In a statement on Monday to Newsweek, OpenAI said it had voluntarily paused training its most capable models and would resume training only when it was confident additional safeguards were in place, but did not say whether it supports the third-party-approved protections sought by Uthmeier.
“People want to know AI is being developed safely, and that starts with what companies like ours do ourselves,” OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said.
“On Friday, we announced we've paused training our most capable models and will resume training only when we are confident that we have additional safeguards in place,” he added.
OpenAI also said safety standards should apply across the AI industry rather than targeting a single company. “Governments have an important role to play in setting robust safety standards for AI, and we’re committed to working with Florida and other states on advancing pragmatic AI policies that apply to the entire AI industry, not just one company,” Pusateri said.
Uthmeier's filing repeatedly points to warnings from AI leaders themselves as evidence that additional restrictions are necessary.
In his video, Uthmeier claimed OpenAI's own executives and advisers have acknowledged serious risks from advanced AI and referenced recent reports involving OpenAI systems and cybersecurity incidents.
"If Sam Altman meant what he said about slowing down, he can join our ask to the court," Uthmeier said. "If he will not, we ask the court to do what OpenAI will not do for itself. Protect Florida families."
AI Safety Debate Intensifies
Florida's request arrives as calls for stronger AI oversight have intensified across political and industry lines.
Amodei recently warned that the industry should slow frontier AI development and focus on safety protections, while other researchers have raised concerns about increasingly autonomous AI systems.
At the same time, Trump and other supporters of a lighter-touch approach argue that excessive regulation could undermine American innovation and weaken the country's position in the global race for AI dominance.
The Future of Life Institute, an AI safety nonprofit, backed state intervention if Congress does not act.
“OpenAI has demonstrated and admitted it can't control its own technology,” Michael Kleinman, the institute’s head of U.S. policy, told Newsweek on Monday. “So far, the targets of OpenAI's agents have been other companies and the federal government, but it could be the power grid, a major bank, or a water treatment facility next.”
Kleinman added: “It's critical that we take the threat posed by AI seriously, and act with urgency. If Congress refuses to do so, the states should step up. Every other industry, from airline manufacturers to pharmaceutical companies, has regulation that keeps people safe; why should tech companies be any different?”
Uthmeier’s push puts him in an unusual political position. The Florida attorney general, a Republican ally of Trump, is now pursuing one of the most aggressive state-level efforts yet against a major AI company, even as the president has publicly criticized what he views as exaggerated fears about the technology and has promoted continued AI expansion.
Whether Florida's courts will agree to impose the requested restrictions remains unclear, but the filing marks a significant escalation in a debate that increasingly pits AI safety concerns against arguments for rapid innovation and global competitiveness.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins
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