I’m not one to write on Saturday nights, but I’ve chosen to stay in. I’m trying to leave a cold behind me that’s clutched my body for a few days, but more critically, the past 48 hours have been rollicking as far as news is concerned.
Minister of AI and the Murkiness of ChatGPT
On Friday, Canada’s federal Artificial Intelligence Minister (yes, that position exists), Evan Solomon, shared a public written statement expressing how nonplussed he is about OpenAI’s ways of running its affairs. This was a development following a communication from OpenAI to the ministry on Thursday, in which the San Francisco-based enterprise vowed it would enhance measures to ensure its technology is employed ethically by users.
Why would a gargantuan company with global influence and thousands of fish to fry correspond with the Canadian government? Well, in the aftermath of the dreadful Tumbler Ridge massacre that transpired on February 10th, the public learned that the perpetrator, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, had opened not one but two ChatGPT accounts – ChatGPT being the prodigal creation of OpenAI. The first was flagged last summer because the soon-to-be killer had somehow gotten to converse with the Large Language Model (LLM) for the “furtherance of violent activities.”
Good on OpenAI for closing that account. But Van Rootselaar was evidently persistent in their desire to utilize ChatGPT, and as such, curtailed the company’s security measures and opened a second account.
It’s understood that Minister Solomon will meet with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman next week. The Ministry, the government, and it’s fair to argue, a considerable chunk of the Canadian public would like some answers as to how a mass shooter interacted with a tool as potent as ChatGPT to discuss such dark matters. Not once, but twice.
B.C. Premier David Eby said OpenAI had made a mistake by not contacting Canadian authorities in the first place. No kidding.
None of this means OpenAI is the devil’s pawn. But clearly, things are not working as they should from an ethical standpoint. The benefits of such technologies are plenty, yet potential and quantifiable issues (the energy resources to run the machines) remain. There are “oopsie” mistakes and “you fudged up” mistakes. This is the latter.
OpenAI to Assist Pentagon
From a Canadian perspective, the news on Friday night felt like a bad joke. OpenAI, the company we just wrote about regarding a mass shooting in B.C., will come to the aid of the Pentagon.
Sam Altman, who made the announcement, insisted that his company and the U.S. government found common ground regarding the ethical means by which the technology would benefit the military. OpenAI made certain demands in that respect, and it appears the government acquiesced. The points of contention concerned mass surveillance and autonomous weapons systems. In essence, machines that kill without a human at the helm.
Fair enough. Then again, there was to be a partnership between the U.S. military and a rival AI behemoth, Anthropic. The latter had reportedly made the same demands yet was shunned by Donald Trump. Was it the way they put in the request? Did Trump simply like the idea of working with OpenAI more? Who knows.
Keep in mind that the current U.S. administration has rebaptized the Department of Defense (American spelling) the Department of War (DOW). But sure, the DOW will use OpenAI ethically. As one does.
Mark Carney in India Despite Misgivings
Prime Minister Mark Carney is currently in India for four days to mend economic and diplomatic ties between Canada and the South Asian giant.
There are reasons why the attempt makes sense. Money talks, and these days it’s prudent for Canada to seek ways to earn money via avenues other than its obvious southern neighbour.
On the topic of countries with which Canada is having a rough patch, that reminds me of another… Ah, yes, India.
Not for inconsequential reasons either. Lest it be overlooked amidst the red carpet treatment in Mumbai, a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Niijar, was murdered in June 2023. Say what one will of the Khalistan movement – good idea, bad idea, possible or impossible – a foreign nation can’t coordinate an assassination of another country’s citizen willy nilly on that other country’s soil.
Things only got worse from there between the two nations when, in October 2024, Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats as the investigation into Niijar’s killing developed.
In spring 2025, during the federal general election, the topic of India’s influence on the 2022 Conservative Party leadership race was brought up. This has nothing to do with Pierre Poilievre, who didn’t have the security clearance to be informed by authorities of any foreign interference anyway. But the Narendra Modi government seems especially keen to have a say in what Canadians of South Asian heritage do and say in Canada, at least politically.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand didn’t even answer reporters’ questions as to whether the government and its main intelligence branch CSIS (Canadian Security and Intelligence Service) believe the Indian government continues its interference.
Now, given the circumstances – the Prime Minister trying to sign a massive trade deal with India whilst visiting that nation – it would be wild for her to admit that the Modi regime has its hands dirty in Canadian affairs 24/7. Expectations need to be put in check when such questions are asked, at least to a degree.
That said, the lack of clarity on India’s attitude towards Canada remains alarming. Yes, it is important to diversify the country’s opportunities during times of uncertainty. What’s more, the Prime Minister has made it clear that the world exists in an age when nations have to deal with what is, not what they wish to be. Fair point. It’s equally fair to keep the safeguards and eyes peeled when getting in bed with folk who, frankly, haven’t played nice at all in recent years.
Iran, Israel, Pakistan, and Afghanistan
All that sounds like Pee Wee hockey compared to Saturday, February 28th. In the early hours of the day, both the U.S. and Israeli militaries commenced attacks on Iran with the specific intent of toppling the regime led by Ayatollah Khamenei.
That Iran and Israel have been at odds for decades is no secret. The Islamic Republic of Iran, born in 1979 after the ousting of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has time and time again declared and attempted (however clumsily) its steadfast intent on destroying Israel. They’ve never been huge fans of the Americans either.
Donald Trump fired warnings, literally and rhetorically, since last year. First, with air strikes in June 2025 that attempted to dismantle the country’s uranium-enriching facilities. Second, with verbal warnings as the regime tried to squash public demonstrations that began in December 2025. Now, literally in the past few hours, even Iranian state media has confirmed that the Ayatollah Khamenei is no more.
It’s anyone’s guess what happens after this. One thing is for sure: there is a supremely large portion of the Persian diaspora who are chuffed that an oppressive regime that has dominated the country for so long may have enjoyed its final breath. One need only think back to the outcry in 2022 in the aftermath of Mahsa Amini’s death while in police custody. On the flip side, there have been mourners in Tehran chanting their favourite slogan: death to America.
The dust hasn’t even settled yet, and it might not for some time, so I won’t go any further than this on the topic. Suffice it to say that it’s been a stunner of a Saturday.
Oh, and Pakistan and Afghanistan are bombing each other. It seems that Pakistan, despite having supported the Taliban once upon a time, don’t like this iteration of the regime. I learned that there is such a thing as the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-E Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is one of the primary forces giving Islamabad so many headaches these days.
Headaches and Tailspins
48 hours. All of the above has transpired over the past 48 hours, give or take (this might be published on Sunday morning, March 1st). What is the average citizen supposed to make of all this? No one can be an expert in all subjects, and I’m certainly not declaring myself as one. On my best days, I’m a passable wannabe journalist, just asking questions and reading what’s going on.
For people with even a hint of curiosity about the world, 2026 is bananas. We’ve barely entered its third month, and the United States have ended two foreign governments (Venezuela feels like 10 years ago. It was early January).
It’s not easy keeping up. It’s not always fun either. Bad news sells. I can’t blame people who opt to turn the other cheek and concentrate on simpler, happier distractions. In some respects, I envy them. Alas, that doesn’t seem to be part of my DNA makeup. I have to know what’s going on. I can’t help it, but sometimes it feels like an overload. The past few days certainly fit that billing.
Edgar Chaps 
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