Family of OpenAI Whistleblower Questions Suicide Ruling, Calls for Investigation

Suchir Balaji, a former AI researcher who raised concerns about OpenAI's practices, was found dead in November; his parents seek answers and a reopened case.

Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher who publicly criticized the company's AI practices, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, with the death ruled a suicide by authorities.
Balaji's parents have expressed doubts about the official conclusion, citing his upbeat demeanor and lack of warning signs, and have commissioned a private autopsy with undisclosed findings.
Balaji had left OpenAI in August, citing ethical concerns about the company’s use of copyrighted material in training AI models, which he believed harmed creators and violated copyright laws.
Days before his death, Balaji was named in a legal filing as a key witness with documents relevant to lawsuits against OpenAI, including one by The New York Times over copyright infringement.
The family has hired an attorney to push for a reopened investigation, emphasizing the need for clarity on the circumstances surrounding Balaji's death and advocating for whistleblower protections.