OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a public apology for his company's failure to alert law enforcement about the online activities of a person who went on to kill eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The apology, posted Friday, comes months after the 10 February shooting where 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed her mother, stepbrother, five children, and an educator before turning the gun on herself, injuring 25 others.
OpenAI revealed after the incident that it had identified Van Rootselaar's account in June of the previous year using abuse detection efforts for "furtherance of violent activities." The company considered referring the account to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but decided the activity didn't meet its threshold for law enforcement referral. Instead, it simply banned the account for violating usage policy. Because nothing says "we take threats seriously" like a politely enforced terms-of-service violation.
Altman's letter, addressed to the community and shared by British Columbia Premier David Eby, reads like a masterclass in belated 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 to recognize the harm and irreversible loss your community has suffered." He also spoke with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and Eby, who "conveyed the anger, sadness and concern" felt locally. Altman committed to working with governments to prevent future tragedies, which is a nice sentiment, though perhaps a bit late for the eight people who won't benefit from it.
Eby called the apology "necessary, and yet grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge." We suspect that's diplomatic for "we'll see you in court."