The death of an OpenAI researcher turned whistleblower last month was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner, but his parents are not convinced.
Suchir Balaji, 26, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 after making headlines months earlier for publicly accusing OpenAI of violating U.S. copyright laws in the development of ChatGPT, ABC7 reported.
The appointed medical examiner ruled Balaji's death a suicide, citing no signs of foul play. However, his parents, Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy, have expressed doubts and hired an independent expert to conduct a second autopsy.
"I was the last person to talk to him," Ramamurthy, the man's father, told ABC7. "He was happy, not depressed or anything. It was his birthday week. He made plans to see us in January."
"How can anyone believe that there was no suicide note left?" Ramarao told the outlet. "We have seen the blood shots in the bathroom, signs of fight."
Balaji's whistleblowing had made him a key figure in pending lawsuits against OpenAI, where he accused the company of violating copyright laws in training its AI systems. OpenAI has maintained that its work is legal under fair use principles.
The results of the independent autopsy report are still pending as the family continues to seek answers.
Originally published by Latin Times.
