The mother of a deceased OpenAI whistleblower has spoken out following her son’s reported suicide.
Suchir Balaji, 26, worked for OpenAI for four years and helped launched ChatGPT in 2022 – an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that uses AI to have text-based conversations with human users.
Over the summer, Apple announced that the AI service would be integrated into its iOS 18 after the tech powerhouse signed a deal with OpenAI.
While many people have raved about OpenAI’s brainchild ChatGPT and have used it for themselves, Balaji had his concerns about it and ultimately did a tell-all interview with the New York Times about it.
In the article was published in October, Balaji accused OpenAI of breaking copyright laws.
Just over a month after the article went out, the 26-year-old was found dead in his San Francisco apartment.
The medical examiner’s office determined that Balaji’s death was as a result of suicide, and that no foul play had taken place – but his mother, Poornima Ramarao, thinks there might me more at play.
Speaking to Business Insider, she said that her late son ‘felt AI is a harm to humanity’.
“We want to leave the question open,” Ramarao added of her son’s ultimately death.
“It doesn’t look like a normal situation.”
She ordered a private autopsy on her son, which she said yielded atypical results, but would not give any more details.
She is now urging the police to reopen the case and conduct a ‘proper investigation’.
Ramarao further explained that Balaji had long shown that he was a knack for technology and hailed him ‘a prodigy’.
She became concerned for her son’s welfare after the release of his New York Times interview.
“I literally blasted him,” the grieving mother shared.
“You should not go alone. Why did you give your picture? Why did you give your name? Why don’t you stay anonymous? What’s the need for you to give your picture?”
Going on to say that she’d urged her son to get a group of people behind him rather that whistleblowing on his own, Ramarao shared that apparently Balaji was in the process of doing so.
“I think he was too naive and too innocent to understand this dirty corporate world,” she continued.
OpenAI has released a statement in the wake of his comments made to the New York Times in October.
“We first became aware of his concerns when The New York Times published his comments and we have no record of any further interaction with him,” a spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider.
“We respect his, and others’, right to share views freely. Our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones, and we extend our deepest condolences to all who are mourning his loss.”
They added that the company is ‘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’.
UNILAD has approached OpenAI and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for comment.
