The parents of the OpenAI whistleblower who was found dead in his apartment last month have questioned the cause of their son’s death.
Suchir Balaji, 26, worked for OpenAI for four years and contributed towards the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 – an artificial intelligence 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 signing a deal with OpenAI.
Balaji had his concerns about OpenAI’s brainchild ChatGPT, and accused OpenAI of breaking copyright laws in a tell-all New York Times article.
The 26-year-old was found dead in his San Francisco apartment just a month after the article was published.
The medical examiner’s office determined that Balaji’s death was as a result of suicide, and also ruled out foul play.
But his parents, Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy, have since hired an expert to conduct an independent autopsy as they do not believe their son died by suicide.
“I was the last person to talk to him. He was happy, more – not depressed or anything. And it was his birthday week,” said Balaji, as per ABC 7 News.
Poornima, Balaji’s mother, added: “He made plans to see us in January. That was the last phone conversation he had with anyone. He went into his apartment and never came out. How can anyone believe that there was no suicide note left?
“And there was nobody else on the scene, that doesn’t mean they can just come to conclusion. And we have seen the blood shots in the bathroom, signs of fight in the bathroom.”
Poornima previously spoke to Business Insider and said that her late son ‘felt AI is a harm to humanity’.
“We want to leave the question open,” she said of her son’s passing.
“It doesn’t look like a normal situation.”
The mother 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?”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
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