OpenAI’s Sam Altman apologizes for not reporting ChatGPT account of Tumbler Ridge suspect to police

Two months following the deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, OpenAI’s Sam Altman has formally apologized for not informing police of the alarming ChatGPT conversations seen with the suspect’s account. Before the incident, OpenAI banned the account belonging to the alleged shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, for violating its usage policy due to potential for real-world violence.

“I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June,” Altman wrote in the letter. “While I know words can never be enough, I believe an apology is necessary to recognize the harm and irreversible loss your community has suffered.”

Altman noted in the letter, which was published in full by Tumbler RidgeLines, that he spoke with both Darryl Krakowa, Tumbler Ridge’s mayor, and David Eby, the British Columbia premier, and agreed that a “public apology was necessary, but that time was also needed to respect the community as you grieved.”

Eby, who also highlighted Altman’s letter in his post on X, agreed that the “apology is necessary,” but added that it was “grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge.” Moving ahead, Altman reaffirmed in the letter that OpenAI would “find ways to prevent tragedies like this in the future” and work with all levels of government to prevent something like this from happening again. Altman’s latest commitment builds on the previous letter from OpenAI’s vice president of global policy Ann O’Leary, who said the company would notify authorities if it finds “imminent and credible” threats in ChatGPT conversations.