The families of victims killed in a deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, have sued OpenAI, demanding the tech giant pay for a new school after their AI tool, ChatGPT, was used in the planning of the violence. The shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School killed eight people, including five children, and prompted the demolition of the school. Now, British Columbia is arguing that OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, owe the community more than an apology: they must fund the construction of a new school and cover extensive emergency costs.

The secondary school, once at the heart of the town, has been reduced to rubble. In August, demolition began, leaving 160 students, teachers, and staff trapped in classrooms and closets for hours. The community hopes to start anew, aiming to have a replacement school built in a different location by the end of the year, if all goes to plan.

The lawsuit demands that OpenAI take meaningful action to prevent future incidents, including updating ChatGPT to automatically terminate violent conversations. British Columbia argues that OpenAI and Altman should not only pay for the new school but also cover a wide range of other emergency costs that would not have been incurred if not for this tragedy and its foreseeable consequences.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has faced criticism for the company’s handling of the incident, with questions raised about the potential dangers of AI tools. Whether this lawsuit will set a precedent for future AI-related incidents remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the fallout from this tragic event is far-reaching and will have long-lasting impacts on Tumbler Ridge and OpenAI.