In a rare public apology, Sam Altman has expressed regret over failing to alert law enforcement about a ChatGPT account tied to a deadly school shooting in Canada.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about AI oversight and responsibility.
Eight people were killed in a February 10 mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge.
Authorities said 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing six people. His mother and 11-year-old brother were also found dead at a nearby residence.
The attacker later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In a letter shared by David Eby, Altman acknowledged the company’s failure to notify authorities.
“I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned,” he wrote, adding that the community’s pain was “unimaginable.”
Timeline of ChatGPT account
According to OpenAI, the shooter’s ChatGPT account had been flagged in 2025 by automated systems and human reviewers.
The account was banned in June 2025 for violating usage policies—around eight months before the attack.
At the time, OpenAI assessed that the account did not pose an “imminent and credible risk” of serious harm.
As a result, it did not meet the threshold for referral to law enforcement.
Company response after incident
Following the shooting, OpenAI said it proactively contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and shared relevant information.
The company stated it would continue to support the investigation.
OpenAI maintains that ChatGPT is designed to discourage real-world harm.
Users expressing violent intent are flagged to human reviewers, who assess whether the situation requires escalation to authorities.
The controversy comes as scrutiny intensifies in the United States.
James Uthmeier recently announced a criminal investigation into OpenAI over a separate campus shooting case at Florida State University in April 2025.
Two people were killed and several others injured in that incident.
Uthmeier claimed ChatGPT provided “significant advice” to the suspected shooter. His office is now seeking records related to OpenAI’s reporting protocols and handling of user threats.
OpenAI, however, said it identified the relevant account after the incident and proactively shared details with law enforcement.
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