OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a public apology for the company's failure to alert authorities about the concerning online activity of a teenager who later committed one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings.

Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, went on a shooting spree in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on February 10, killing eight people, including his mother, half-brother, and five students at a local secondary school. Rootselaar, who was born male but identified as female, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

OpenAI revealed that Rootselaar's ChatGPT account had been flagged for misuse in furtherance of violent activities in June and subsequently suspended. However, the company did not inform law enforcement, claiming the activity did not meet the threshold of a credible or imminent threat.

In a letter shared by British Columbia Premier David Eby and the Tumbler RidgeLines news site, Altman expressed deep regret: "I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June. While I know words can never be enough, I believe an apology is necessary."

Altman pledged to work with all levels of government to prevent future tragedies, stating the company's focus would be on ensuring such an incident never happens again. The apology came after Premier Eby and Mayor Darryl Krakowka conveyed the community's anger and sadness.

Source: www.aljazeera.com