Sam Altman, who leads OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, recently discussed the passing of Suchir Balaji, a former employee who died by suicide last year.
Balaji was an integral part of OpenAI for almost four years and was involved in the launch of ChatGPT in 2022.
Despite his contributions to the AI project, Balaji voiced concerns regarding ChatGPT and accused OpenAI of breaking copyright laws in an article published by the New York Times.
The 26-year-old was discovered deceased in his San Francisco apartment a month following the publication of the article.
The medical examiner’s office concluded that Balaji’s death was due to suicide, ruling out any foul play.
Nonetheless, his parents, Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy, contest the suicide ruling and have initiated a lawsuit in February, alleging that San Francisco officials have restricted access to documents related to the police investigation of their son’s death.
In a conversation with Tucker Carlson, Altman addressed the tragic circumstances surrounding the whistleblower’s death.
Altman commented: “This was like, not a close friend, but someone who worked at OpenAI for a very long time. I was shaken by this tragedy. It looks like a suicide to me.”
He confessed that Balaji’s death initially appeared ‘very suspicious’ to him, but his perspective changed after further details emerged, leading him to believe it was a suicide.
Carlson questioned the possibility of murder, prompting Altman to reply: “This is a wonderful person and a family that is clearly struggling. I think his memory and his family deserve to be treated with a level of respect and grief that I don’t quite feel here.”
Altman continued: “If I were his family, I am sure I would want answers and I’m sure I would not be satisfied… There’s nothing that would comfort me in that. I get it. I also care a lot about respect to him.”
Balaji’s mother, Poornima, shared with ABC7 News her disbelief that her son died by suicide.
She stated: “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.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, support is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting MHA to 741741.
You can also contact the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.