OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has apologized after the February mass shooting in the Canadian city of Tumbler Ridge, which left eight people dead.
Altman said he was “deeply sorry” that the company did not alert police about the shooter’s disturbing ChatGPAT accounts.
British Columbia Prime Minister David Abiy described the apology as “necessary, and yet woefully inadequate”.
How did OpenAI fail to work?
An 18-year-old transgender woman killed her mother and stepbrother at home on 10 February, before driving to a local secondary school and setting fire to it. He murdered five children and a teacher, then took his own life.
After the attack, OpenAI said it had identified the suspect’s account through its abuse detection system and banned him in June, eight months before the shooting.
The ChatGPT developer said it did not report the account to Canadian police at the time, because the activity did not meet its threshold for law enforcement.
“I deeply regret that we did not alert law enforcement about the account being banned in June,” Altman said. “While I know words can never be enough, I believe an apology is necessary to recognize the harm and irreparable harm caused to your community.”
How does ChatGPT report suspected violence?
OpenAI says it uses automated moderation systems that scan content in real time. Violating the rules may result in accounts being restricted or restricted. Violations include sexual exploitation, support of self-harm and suicide, and promotion of violence and harm.
In severe cases, systems are designed to flag high-risk behavior for human review. If a credible threat is identified, the Company may share relevant account data with law enforcement.
Following the attack, Canadian officials summoned OpenAI’s security team and warned of regulatory action if changes were not made. The company said it would tighten its security measures and had created a direct communication channel with police.
In the letter, Altman said the company is committed to finding ways to prevent similar tragedies. “Moving forward, our focus will be on working with all levels of government to ensure this never happens again,” he said.
The family of a girl who was seriously injured in the shooting has filed a lawsuit against the US tech giant.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery