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OpenAI whistleblower was one of the 'true geniuses,' colleague says

Dec 30, 2024 - businessinsider.com
Suchir Balaji, a former researcher at OpenAI, was remembered as a brilliant and independent thinker at a private memorial service following his death, which was ruled a suicide. Balaji, who worked at OpenAI for nearly four years, was praised by colleagues for his technical prowess and contributions to projects like WebGPT. Despite his achievements, Balaji publicly accused OpenAI of violating copyright law to train ChatGPT after leaving the company, a claim that OpenAI has denied. His colleagues expressed surprise at these accusations, as Balaji had not previously voiced such concerns.

Balaji's decision to speak with The New York Times about his allegations was met with mixed reactions from friends and family, with some expressing surprise and concern over the potential ramifications. His mother, Poornima Ramarao, mentioned working with an attorney to further investigate his death. Balaji had also planned to provide documents for a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI. Friends who last saw him during a trip to Catalina Island reported that he seemed fine, adding to the shock of his sudden passing.

Key takeaways:

  • Suchir Balaji was a researcher at OpenAI who accused the company of violating copyright law after leaving.
  • Balaji was remembered as a brilliant and independent thinker by colleagues and friends, contributing significantly to projects like WebGPT.
  • His death was ruled a suicide, and his family is seeking further investigation into the circumstances.
  • Balaji had plans to provide documents for a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI, and his concerns about copyright were surprising to some colleagues.
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