OpenAI CEO Sam Altman formally apologized to the community of Tumbler Ridge following a mass shooting incident in British Columbia. The apology addresses the fact that OpenAI did not alert law enforcement to alarming ChatGPT conversations associated with the suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar.
Altman penned a letter two months after the deadly shooting. In the message, he expressed deep sorrow for the community’s loss, stating, “I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June.” Altman noted that the account belonged to the alleged shooter, who had been banned previously for violating usage policies due to potential for real-world violence.
In the letter, Altman shared that he had met with both Mayor Darryl Krakowa of Tumbler Ridge and Premier David Eby of British Columbia. According to the provided text, he stated that the public apology was necessary, but that time was also needed to respect the grieving community.
Premier David Eby also addressed the letter, agreeing that the “apology is necessary,” but criticizing it as “grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge.”
Moving forward, Altman reaffirmed a commitment that OpenAI would “find ways to prevent tragedies like this in the future.” He committed to working with all levels of government to prevent such incidents from recurring. This effort builds on a previous commitment from OpenAI’s vice president of global policy, Ann O’Leary, who stated the company would notify authorities if it found “imminent and credible” threats in ChatGPT conversations.
The release of the apology occurred a month after Altman had promised Premier Eby and Mayor Krakowa that he would apologize. The formal public apology was made on April 24.
The timing of the apology followed Premier Eby’s announcement, during a press conference with Mayor Krakowka, that the RCMP investigation into the shooting was entering its final stages.