The leader of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has apologised for not informing the police about an account suspected to belong to the mass shooting suspect in Canada.

In a letter to Tumbler Ridge, Altman admitted that they did not report the banned ChatGPT account because it didn't meet their threshold criteria for imminent danger. The shooting killed eight and injured nearly 30 people, marking one of British Columbia's deadliest incidents.

Altman expressed deep regret and acknowledged the pain endured by the community. He stated: 'While I know that words can never be enough, an apology is necessary to recognise the harm and irreversible loss your community has suffered.'

The company is now facing a lawsuit from parents of one of the victims, who claim OpenAI had knowledge of the shooter's plans but failed to act.

OpenAI has committed to enhancing its safety measures, stating they will continue working with governments to prevent such tragedies. However, their response raises questions about the balance between privacy and safety in an increasingly connected world.