Parents of OpenAI Whistleblower Suchir Balaji, Found Dead at 26 on November 26, Demand FBI Investigation into His Death Ruled as Suicide

Dec 29, 2024, 07:01 PM

The family of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher who was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, is disputing the police's ruling of suicide. They have hired a private investigator, citing signs of a struggle in his apartment and claiming that Balaji was murdered. His mother, Poornima Ramarao, has publicly called for an FBI investigation, arguing that local authorities are unable to adequately address the circumstances surrounding his death. Balaji had previously exposed alleged ethical violations at OpenAI, which his family believes may have made him a target. The case has garnered attention from notable figures including Elon Musk, who has expressed skepticism about the suicide ruling, stating, "This doesn’t seem like suicide." The family alleges that Balaji's apartment was ransacked and that there were indications of foul play, including blood spots in the bathroom. They believe that the timing of his death, shortly after he had published critical revelations about OpenAI, raises further questions about the official narrative.