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Elon Musk Backs FBI Probe as OpenAI Whistleblower's Suicide Ruling Challenged

Dec 30, 2024, 03:09 PM

The mysterious death of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher, has sparked significant controversy. Balaji, who was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, 2024, was initially ruled to have died by suicide by local authorities. However, his parents, Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy, have challenged this conclusion, citing evidence of a struggle, including blood stains in the bathroom and a ransacked apartment. They have hired a private investigator and conducted an independent autopsy, which they claim contradicts the official findings. Balaji had recently accused OpenAI of copyright violations related to ChatGPT's development and was named as a potential witness in a lawsuit against the company. His family believes his whistleblowing activities may have made him a target. Balaji, who had been celebrating his birthday week, had plans to visit his family in January. The case has drawn attention from prominent figures, including Elon Musk, who has publicly supported the family's call for an FBI investigation. Balaji's death has raised broader concerns about the safety of whistleblowers and the ethical practices of AI companies.