Sam Altman Apologizes Over ChatGPT Link to School Shooting
Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, has apologized to the community of Tumbler Ridge after the company failed to alert police about a ChatGPT account linked to the perpetrator of a deadly school shooting in February.
According to authorities, Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old with a history of mental health problems and prior police contacts, killed his mother and half-brother at home before going to his former school, Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where he shot dead a teacher and five students and injured 27 others. He then took his own life. Police said Van Rootselaar was born male but had identified as a woman for about six years.
OpenAI had already blocked the account in June last year for violating company rules, but at the time did not consider the case serious enough to report to law enforcement.
In a letter, Altman expressed deep regret and described the suffering of the local community as unimaginable. He also said he had spoken with officials from the province of British Columbia and local authorities about the case.
The company said it was ready to cooperate with investigators and review its internal procedures to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.