The parents of 26-year-old Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI employee and whistleblower, have cast doubt on the official ruling of their son’s death as a suicide. The young man’s tragic death occurred in San Francisco, just three months after he publicly accused OpenAI of violating copyright laws in the development of ChatGPT.
Balaji’s parents, Balagi Ramamurthy and his wife, have hired a private investigator to delve deeper into the circumstances of their son’s death. They claim the evidence doesn’t align with the narrative of suicide and are raising questions about foul play.
“I was the last person to talk to him. He was happy, not depressed or anything,” Balaji’s father said, noting it was his son’s birthday week and he had plans to visit his family in January.
Balaji’s mother also expressed her doubts, highlighting the lack of a suicide note and the signs of a struggle in his apartment. “He made plans to see us in January. That was the last phone conversation he had with anyone. He went into his apartment and never came out. How can anyone believe there was no note left? And we have seen the blood shots in the bathroom, signs of a fight in the bathroom,” she said.
The alleged signs of a struggle, combined with the timing of Balaji’s whistleblowing activities against OpenAI, have raised eyebrows. Balaji had accused the AI giant of using copyrighted material without proper authorization, a claim that could have far-reaching implications for the company.
As the investigation unfolds, questions about the potential connection between his allegations and his untimely death linger. The private investigator hired by the family is expected to provide additional insights, and local authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive statement on the matter.
This story is developing, and updates will follow as more details become available.
