Suchir Balaji’s death: Elon Musk supports OpenAI whistleblower’s mother in plea for justice

The death of Indian-American AI expert and whistleblower Suchir Balaji is prompting increasing demands for a federal investigation, due to his family's expressed concerns about the circumstances.

Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI employee and whistleblower, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, 2024. Authorities initially withheld his identity, confirming on December 13 that the body found in an apartment on Buchanan Street was his.

On December 27, family and friends held a vigil in Milpitas, California, to honor Balaji's legacy and demand accountability in the field of Artificial Intelligence. During the event, his parents vowed to pursue justice, insisting that their son’s death required deeper investigation.

Despite the official ruling of suicide by San Francisco authorities, Balaji's parents allege conflicting evidence from a private investigation and autopsy.

In an emotional video shared on social media, Balaji’s father, Balaji Ramamurthy, recalled being the last person to speak with his son. “He was happy, not depressed or anything. And it was his birthday week,” he said, rejecting the suicide claim.

His mother, Poornima Ramarao, questioned the investigation, telling Mercury News: “We’ve seen blood stains in the bathroom, signs of a fight. How can there be no suicide note or further investigation?”

She also revealed that Balaji had planned to visit his parents in January, making his death even more puzzling. A day before his body was discovered, Ramarao visited his apartment after he failed to answer calls. With no response at the door, she contacted police, but was told nothing could be done. His body was found the next day.

The family has also set up a GoFundMe page to cover legal costs for their fight for justice. On social media, Ramarao alleged foul play, describing the apartment as “ransacked” and pointing to evidence of a struggle.

In a post on X, she wrote: “We hired a private investigator and did a second autopsy. Private autopsy doesn’t confirm the cause of death stated by police. Suchir’s apartment was ransacked; signs of a struggle in the bathroom indicate he was hit. This is cold-blooded murder declared as suicide. We demand an FBI investigation.”

Elon Musk, who has publicly criticized OpenAI and its CEO, responded to her post, saying, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.”

Balaji left OpenAI in August 2024 after publicly accusing the company of using copyrighted material to train ChatGPT. In an interview with The New York Times, he argued that OpenAI’s use of copyrighted data violated laws and that the fair use defense was insufficient.

In his final social media posts, Balaji reiterated concerns about the ethical and legal implications of generative AI models.

In a statement, OpenAI expressed sorrow over Balaji’s passing, saying, “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news today and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time.” The company maintains that its practices adhere to fair use laws and longstanding legal precedents.

Balaji was working on establishing a nonprofit focused on machine learning and neuroscience, with a goal of creating ethical AI solutions. His mother described him as “very ethical” and dedicated to “offering a service to humanity.”

Balaji’s death has intensified discussions about the ethical responsibilities of AI developers. His accusations against OpenAI and his calls for accountability highlight the need for transparency as the AI industry continues to evolve.