The chief executive of artificial intelligence company OpenAI has issued a public apology following revelations that his firm failed to notify authorities about troubling online activity from an account connected to a deadly school shooting in British Columbia, Canada.
Sam Altman released the apology letter on Friday, expressing remorse over the company’s decision not to contact law enforcement about suspicious behavior from an account they had previously suspended.
“I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June,” Altman stated. “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.”
The tragic incident unfolded on February 10 when authorities say 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar first killed her mother, 39-year-old Jennifer Jacobs, and 11-year-old stepbrother, Emmett Jacobs, at their family residence in northern British Columbia. Van Rootselaar then proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School where she fatally shot five students and one educator before taking her own life. The rampage left 25 additional victims wounded.
Following the massacre, OpenAI disclosed that their automated systems had flagged Van Rootselaar’s account the previous June for content related to “furtherance of violent activities.” The San Francisco-based technology firm acknowledged they debated whether to report the concerning activity to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but ultimately decided the content did not reach their threshold for law enforcement notification. Instead, they terminated the account for policy violations.
British Columbia Premier David Eby had previously criticized the company’s inaction, suggesting OpenAI “looks like” they could have prevented the mass casualty event.
Altman’s letter, dated Thursday and shared through Premier Eby’s social media accounts and local news outlet Tumbler RidgeLines, detailed conversations with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and Eby about the community’s response.
“I want to express my deepest condolences to the entire community,” Altman wrote. “No one should ever have to endure a tragedy like this. I cannot imagine anything worse in this world than losing a child. My heart remains with the victims.”
The OpenAI leader pledged to work with government officials at all levels to prevent similar tragedies in the future, stating his company would continue focusing on collaborative prevention efforts.
Despite the apology, Premier Eby characterized Altman’s statement as “necessary, and yet grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge” in his own social media response.
