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Family of OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji demand FBI investigate death

Dec 28, 2024 - theguardian.com
Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy are mourning the death of their son, Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower, found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26. The death was ruled a suicide by the chief medical examiner, but his parents dispute this and have called for an FBI investigation, citing concerns about the San Francisco police department's ability to handle cases involving cybersecurity and whistleblower protection. Balaji, who had no history of mental illness and left no suicide note, had recently spoken out against copyright violations by generative AI developers, including OpenAI, and quit the company in August.

At a vigil in Milpitas, California, attended by nearly 80 people, speakers highlighted Balaji's contributions to AI and his advocacy for copyright laws. His parents shared memories of his prodigious childhood and upstanding character, expressing disbelief over the circumstances of his death. OpenAI expressed devastation over Balaji's passing and offered support to his family. The San Francisco police have stated that the investigation remains open and active.

Key takeaways:

  • Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment, with the death ruled as a suicide by the medical examiner.
  • Balaji's parents have questioned the circumstances of his death, citing no history of mental illness or a suicide note, and have demanded an FBI investigation.
  • Balaji was known for his work on WebGPT at OpenAI and had publicly criticized generative AI developers for copyright violations before quitting the company.
  • At a vigil, friends and family highlighted Balaji's advocacy for copyright laws and his belief in the importance of human creativity over AI.
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