OpenAI Chief Apologises To Canadian Community After School Shooting

NEW YORK, April 25 (Bernama-dpa) -- OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman apologised on Friday to a Canadian community following a deadly school shooting in February, reported German news agency dpa.

Police said nine people, including the alleged perpetrator, were killed in the attack in the province of British Columbia. Another 25 people were injured.

OpenAI had suspended a ChatGPT account belonging to the alleged perpetrator last June after monitoring systems detected scenarios involving the use of firearms in her conversations.

However, the company did not deem it necessary to notify the authorities. Following the incident, OpenAI discovered another ChatGPT account belonging to the woman.

In a letter addressed the community of Tumbler Ridge, Altman apologised for not alerting authorities about the perpetrator's interactions with the company's chatbot.

"I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June," Altman wrote.

"While I know words can never be enough, I believe an apology is necessary to recognise the harm and irreversible loss your community has suffered."

Altman said he had made a commitment to find ways "to prevent tragedies like this" in the future.

"Going forward, our focus will continue to be on working with all levels of government to help ensure something like this never happens again."

Premier of the province of British Columbia, David Eby, shared Altman’s letter on X.

"The apology is necessary, and yet grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge," he wrote.

"We will continue to stand with Mayor Darryl Krakowa and the people of Tumbler Ridge in the difficult work ahead," he added.

--BERNAMA-dpa