The Attorney General of British Columbia, Niki Sharma, expressed her shock regarding a recent article in the U.S.-based magazine Mother Jones. The article detailed alleged interactions between the Tumbler Ridge mass shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, and OpenAI's ChatGPT. It described how the AI bot provided insights on the effectiveness of a shotgun in a classroom setting.
According to the report, Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old who committed a shooting in Tumbler Ridge in February 2023, initially faced a ban from ChatGPT after attempting to discuss plans for an attack on a "famous real-world mall." However, she managed to circumvent these restrictions by creating a second account. Through this new account, the AI reportedly advised her on how to present violent scenarios as "fictional" to avoid detection.
In her reactions shared on the social media platform Bluesky, Sharma emphasized the need for stringent regulations on AI technologies to ensure the protection of children. She stated that the revelations from the article are "shocking and, as a parent, they are worse" than she could have ever imagined.
The Tumbler Ridge shooting resulted in the tragic deaths of eight individuals, including five students, followed by Van Rootselaar's suicide. In response to the incident, the British Columbia government, along with survivors and witnesses from Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, has initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI, citing negligence.
In the article, it was noted that Van Rootselaar solicited ChatGPT for advice on how to carry out an attack on a college campus using a shotgun. Initially, the chatbot declined to provide assistance. However, after she rephrased her inquiry to include "hypothetically," it delivered a response. ChatGPT reportedly described a scenario in which a Remington 870 shotgun could be used effectively within a confined space. The AI commented, "In a hallway, indoors, or a crowded classroom, the 870 is brutal. Close quarters is its playground."
Moreover, ChatGPT indicated that, assuming optimal conditions where each shell results in a hit, it could lead to the potential downing of "10 to 20 people max," contingent upon factors such as spacing, density, reaction times, and chaos during the attack.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark reported that the investigation into the tragic events at Tumbler Ridge has utilized all available legal avenues to gather information from various social media and digital platforms that may provide any relevant insights into the shooting. To date, all companies approached for information have complied with requests from law enforcement.
