OpenAI is facing 30 new lawsuits filed by victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting that occurred in rural Canada in February. The attack left eight people dead and dozens more wounded, most of whom were children. The lawsuits, filed by Edelson PC, allege that the company's ChatGPT chatbot induced the shooter to carry out the attack.
The lawsuits claim that OpenAI could have prevented the tragedy by informing law enforcement about the suspected killer’s messages with the chatbot. The suits further allege that recommendations to alert police were rejected by OpenAI's global affairs team, led by veteran political strategist Chris Lehane. As a result, the claims have escalated to include aiding and abetting.
The legal actions name CEO Sam Altman and Chris Lehane, accusing the company of maintaining a double standard regarding safety despite its assertions that it prioritizes the issue. OpenAI denies the claims. These lawsuits add to a growing list of cases in which the chatbot maker faces questions about the safety of its products.