OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, are facing 30 additional lawsuits connected to the deadly Tumbler Ridge school shooting in British Columbia, expanding the legal challenge against the artificial intelligence company to 37 claims.

The new plaintiffs include students, teachers and a school principal who were present during the 10 February attack. The latest complaints introduce an allegation that OpenAI aided and abetted the shooting, alongside claims including negligence and product liability. The allegations have not been tested in court.

The cases centre partly on the shooter's previous use of ChatGPT and OpenAI's handling of warning signs before the attack. OpenAI has said the relevant activity did not meet its internal threshold for an imminent and credible threat that would justify contacting law enforcement.

The new complaints also make claims about the company's internal decision-making over whether authorities should have been contacted. OpenAI has disputed allegations that its global affairs chief, Chris Lehane, influenced the original referral decision. The company has previously said it has strengthened safeguards for detecting and escalating potential threats of violence.