Parents of OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji demand FBI probe after autopsy points to murder

The parents of 26-year-old Suchir Balaji, a former researcher at OpenAI, have raised serious questions about his death, alleging it was not a suicide as reported but a case of murder. Suchir, who had worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before resigning in August to protest its business practices, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment earlier this month. Authorities have officially ruled his death as suicide. However, his parents, Balaji Ramamurthy and Purnima Rao, believe otherwise.

In an interview with NDTV, Suchir’s mother shared that a second autopsy showed signs of a struggle, including a head injury. “The details from the autopsy reveal it is murder,” she claimed. His father recalled their last conversation, saying Suchir was happy and planning future trips. He had just returned from a birthday celebration in Los Angeles and mentioned his interest in attending the CES tech show in Las Vegas in January.

Suchir’s departure from OpenAI stemmed from ethical concerns he had about the company’s functioning. In a New York Times article, he accused OpenAI of violating US copyright laws and expressed frustration over its business practices. According to his mother, Suchir had consulted a copyright attorney to ensure he was not in the wrong and decided to speak out publicly.

His parents suspect foul play, questioning if Suchir faced threats for his whistleblowing. They noted he had not taken another job after leaving OpenAI and was working on neuroscience and machine learning research he planned to publish. “He stood for humanity and believed AI should benefit people, not harm them,” said his mother.

The family is now calling for an FBI investigation to uncover the truth. Prominent figures like Elon Musk have shown support for their demand, with Musk stating, “This doesn’t seem like suicide.” The parents have also sought assistance from Indian authorities in the US, hoping for justice and accountability for their son’s untimely death.