New Delhi: The death of 26-year-old OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji last year was officially declared a case of suicide. His mother, though, disagrees, claiming that her son was murdered due to his exposure of unethical practices at OpenAI.
In an interview with US political commentator Tucker Carlson, published on his website Thursday, Poornima Ramarao shared her perspective, along with details about her son’s life and his untimely death.
Balaji was found dead in his apartment on 26 November, 2024, with a gunshot wound.
According to Ramarao, just before his death, Balaji was preparing to sue OpenAI and had plans to launch a company focused on ethical AI practices.
As OpenAI transitioned towards a profit-driven model, Ramarao revealed that her son began questioning the ethics of the data the company was using.
She said, “He started questioning the morality of the data OpenAI was using. He felt it was unethical and voiced these concerns in his publications.” He voiced worries over copyright infractions, but was hesitant to do so within the organisation for fear of management repercussions. Balaji became more outspoken about these concerns after Sam Altman was brought back to work at OpenAI in November 2023.
“After Altman’s reinstatement, Suchir started thinking about the copyright violations. He discussed it with me and said, ‘Mom, it’s very unethical’,” said Ramarao, adding that he had also shared these concerns with a Canadian reporter.
After Balaji’s death, OpenAI had issued a statement on 26 December: “We were devastated to learn of this tragic news and have been in touch with Suchir’s family to offer our full support during this difficult time… Suchir was a valued member of our team, and his passing has deeply affected those who worked closely with him. We first became aware of his concerns when The New York Times published his comments and have had no further interaction with him. We respect his, and others’, right to share views freely.”
On 29 December, Ramarao tagged tech mogul Elon Musk and others in a post on X, calling for an FBI investigation into her son’s “cold-blooded murder”. Musk responded with a message on X, stating, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.”
Musk had previously posted about Balaji’s death on X as well.
On Thursday, Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna called for a “full and transparent” investigation into Balaji’s death.
The events leading up to his death
Balaji’s mother revealed that her son’s last days were normal and joyful. He returned from a camping trip with friends on 22 November, celebrating his 26th birthday just a day earlier. His parents and friends noted his upbeat demeanour and active lifestyle. “He was upbeat and had concrete career plans,” his mother said to Carlson.
However, Balaji’s body was found in his flat on 26 November. Authorities reported that he shot himself and declared his death a suicide. Despite this, his mother strongly rejects this conclusion.
She describes, “There was blood smeared throughout the flat and a blood-soaked wig found at the scene. His own hair was discovered in the bathroom sink, suggesting a struggle.”
A private autopsy revealed that the bullet’s trajectory was downward—an angle inconsistent with self-inflicted gunshot wounds. “He was made to sit,” she claimed. “Someone standing shot him downward.”
She alleged that critical evidence—including a “bag with blood that had (her) son’s saliva in it”, and other signs of a violent altercation—was ignored by authorities.
Allegations of a cover-up
Balaji’s mother suspects that in order to silence her son, strong forces—possibly connected to OpenAI or other entities—planned his murder.
“He was a custodian witness with documents implicating OpenAI in wrongdoing,” she revealed, citing a New York Times article naming him a key witness.
She also mentioned the lack of a thorough investigation, the hasty suicide conclusion, and OpenAI’s minimal acknowledgment of Balaji’s accomplishments.
“Authorities concluded in just 40 minutes that it was a suicide. They didn’t even collect crucial evidence like the blood-soaked wig,” she said, while also drawing attention to possible conflicts of interest between local government officials and prominent OpenAI figures.
In their quest for justice, Balaji’s parents have ordered a private autopsy to challenge the suicide verdict and reached out to whistleblower protection groups and federal authorities for assistance. They have also contacted the media to inform the public about Balaji’s story and mobilise support.
“We want to honour his legacy and ensure future whistleblowers are protected,” Ramarao said to Carlson.
However, the obstacles they face are significant, including existing corruption within local governance and reluctance from some media outlets to cover the story extensively.
The family continues to advocate for a federal investigation, believing Balaji’s death is linked to broader unethical activities within the AI industry.
“Suchir cared about humanity. He stood up for a cause and lost his life for it,” she said. “We want justice for our son and to expose the unchecked power of tech giants.”
She called on Americans to demand transparency and justice, emphasising that Balaji’s case is not just about his death but also about the unchecked power of tech giants and their potential impact on society.
If you are feeling suicidal or depressed, please call a helpline number in your state.
http://www.aasra.info/helpline.html
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