Parents of OpenAI Whistleblower Assert Murder Over Suicide Following Autopsy Findings

San Francisco, Jan 1 (NationPress) The parents of Indian-American tech professional Suchir Balaji, who was found deceased in his San Francisco apartment on December 14, 2024, have contested the official suicide determination, asserting that their son was a victim of murder.

Suchir, a former employee of OpenAI, garnered attention for his whistleblowing disclosures regarding ethical dilemmas associated with generative AI.

In an interview with NDTV, his parents allege that the subsequent autopsy report reveals "indications of struggle," including a head injury and trauma, which contradicts the suicide conclusion made by the medical examiner's office.

His mother, Poornima Ramarao, expressed skepticism toward the suicide ruling, highlighting the absence of a suicide note and the findings from the second autopsy.

"We have facts from the second autopsy -- head trauma and signs of struggle. This is not a suicide; it's a murder," she asserted.

His father, Balaji Ramamurthi, reminisced about their last conversation on December 22, when Suchir returned from a trip to Los Angeles in a cheerful mood.

"He seemed happy," he recounted.

When inquired if Suchir had secured another job, his mother responded, "No, he didn't. They (OpenAI) probably threatened him. They didn't allow him to work elsewhere. He also consulted a copyright attorney and realized he was not in the wrong; they were merely suppressing him. That led to his interview with the New York Times and ultimately resulted in his death," she noted.

"He was part of the core group working on ChatGPT; he was essentially an architect of the entire project. He possessed a wealth of information about ChatGPT. Restrictions were imposed on him to prevent him from joining other AI firms," the father elaborated.

His mother mentioned that Suchir was engaged in personal research that he intended to publish, explaining how "modulated answers are not necessarily aligned with the information tied to ChatGPT," giving an example of a black and white cat appearing as a colored cat.

"Moreover, the work of artists and journalists was all appropriated, which is unethical. This is what we discussed during our last meeting," she added.

The parents are calling for an FBI investigation to unveil the truth. "There was a struggle; he did not take his life. Now, who and why must be investigated," Poornima urged, appealing to the Indian government for assistance in their cause.

They also appreciated Elon Musk's support but mentioned they had not reached out to him directly.

Describing Suchir as a compassionate and brilliant individual, his parents stated that his death represents a "loss to humanity and the tech industry."

Suchir had been with OpenAI for nearly four years before resigning due to ethical issues.

In an October post on X, he criticized the exploitation of copyrighted materials in generative AI, asserting, "Fair use appears to be a rather implausible defense for many generative AI products."

An OpenAI representative extended condolences, stating, "We are devastated to hear this incredibly sad news today. Our hearts go out to Suchir's loved ones during this challenging time."

Suchir, a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, was a significant figure in the tech industry, with his whistleblowing revelations igniting global dialogues on AI ethics.