return llms_current_time( 'mysql' );
		}

		return date( 'Y-m-d H:i:s', strtotime( $raw_date ) );

	}

	/**
	 * Accepts raw author data and locates an existing author by email or id or creates one
	 *
	 * @since 3.3.0
	 * @since 4.3.3 Use strict string comparator.
	 * @since 4.7.0 Moved from `LLMS_Generator` and made `protected` instead of `private`.
	 *
	 * @param array $raw Author data.
	 *                   If id and email are provided will use id only if it matches the email for user matching that id in the database.
	 *                   If no id found, attempts to locate by email.
	 *                   If no author found and email provided, creates new user using email.
	 *                   Falls back to current user id.
	 *                   First_name, last_name, and description can be optionally provided.
	 *                   When provided will be used only when creating a new user.
	 * @return int WP_User ID
	 *
	 * @throws Exception When an error is encountered creating a new user.
	 */
	protected function get_author_id( $raw ) {

		$author_id = 0;

		// If raw is missing an ID and Email, use current user id.
		if ( ! isset( $raw['id'] ) && ! isset( $raw['email'] ) ) {
			$author_id = get_current_user_id();
		} else {

			// If id is set, check if the id matches a user in the DB.
			if ( isset( $raw['id'] ) && is_numeric( $raw['id'] ) ) {

				$user = get_user_by( 'ID', $raw['id'] );

				// User exists.
				if ( $user ) {

					// We have a raw email.
					if ( isset( $raw['email'] ) ) {

						// Raw email matches found user's email.
						if ( $user->user_email === $raw['email'] ) {
							$author_id = $user->ID;
						}
					} else {
						$author_id = $user->ID;
					}
				}
			}

			if ( ! $author_id ) {

				if ( isset( $raw['email'] ) ) {

					// See if we have a user that matches by email.
					$user = get_user_by( 'email', $raw['email'] );

					// User exists, use this user.
					if ( $user ) {
						$author_id = $user->ID;
					}