Nearly two months after a fatal shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, OpenAI chief Sam Altman has issued an official expression of remorse for failing to notify authorities about disturbing exchanges involving the suspect's ChatGPT profile. Prior to the event, OpenAI had suspended the profile linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the accused perpetrator, citing breaches of its terms related to risks of actual harm.
In his correspondence, Altman stated, 'I deeply regret our decision not to inform law enforcement about the profile we suspended back in June.' He acknowledged that mere statements fall short, yet emphasized the importance of this acknowledgment to honor the profound damage and permanent grief inflicted on the local area.
The message, fully shared by Tumbler RidgeLines, details Altman's discussions with Mayor Darryl Krakowa of Tumbler Ridge and British Columbia Premier David Eby, during which they concurred that a formal public statement of regret was essential, while allowing space for the community's mourning process.
Premier Eby referenced Altman's note in a social media update on X, endorsing the need for the expression of regret but describing it as far from adequate given the profound suffering endured by the victims' families in Tumbler Ridge. Looking forward, Altman pledged in the document that OpenAI would explore measures to avert similar incidents and collaborate across governmental tiers to ensure such events do not recur. This promise extends commitments outlined earlier by Ann O’Leary, OpenAI's vice president for global affairs, who indicated the firm would alert officials upon detecting 'immediate and verifiable' dangers within ChatGPT dialogues.