OpenAI whistleblower’s mother challenges the notion of his ‘suicide’
Poornima Ramarao informed Tucker Carlson that her son, Suchir Balaji, held documents that might be detrimental to the tech company. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Poornima Ramarao recently expressed her doubts about the ruling on her son, Suchir Balaji's, death during an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson, which was made public on Thursday.
Ramarao is calling for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding her son’s demise, asserting that significant evidence contradicts the conclusion that he died by suicide. She highlighted that her son had been disturbed by what he believed to be unethical practices at OpenAI prior to his death.
Moreover, Ramarao mentioned that her son had documents that could potentially harm the company. “He had the documents against OpenAI,” she said, adding that these files contain vital information, and efforts are underway to recover them.
Balaji, who was 26 and an AI researcher, was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, 2024. While authorities classified his death as a suicide, his family has challenged this determination due to perceived inconsistencies in the investigation. Following public concern, the San Francisco Police Department subsequently changed the status of Balaji’s case from “Closed – Suicide” to “Open and Active Investigation.”
In August 2024, Balaji left OpenAI, voicing worries about the company's alleged misappropriation of copyrighted material in its AI training. In a New York Times interview shortly before his death, Balaji remarked that OpenAI’s data practices might infringe upon copyright laws.
During her conversation with Carlson, Ramarao asserted that forensic evidence did not support the official narrative. She specifically mentioned the autopsy findings, which indicated that the bullet's angle was between 30 and 45 degrees, claiming this was inconsistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Additionally, she stated that a private autopsy uncovered further head injuries, implying possible signs of a struggle. “There is a head injury on the left side of the head,” she said.
Reflecting on her son’s final days, Ramarao recounted that he had recently returned from a trip with friends in good spirits and was making plans for the future. “He had a non-profit in mind. He didn’t want to take a salary for his work. He said, ‘Mom, I have enough resources. I want to serve humanity,’” she remembered. She questioned how someone so focused on future aspirations could choose to end his own life.
Ramarao also criticized OpenAI for not recognizing Balaji's contributions to the organization. “He was vital in the ChatGPT team... but the irony is, he was never acknowledged by OpenAI,” she remarked. According to her, OpenAI reached out to the family only concerning Balaji’s stock options, rather than to express condolences or support.
The family continues to demand an independent investigation into Balaji’s death. “We want justice. We want the death sentence to the one who killed my son, as well as imprisonment for people who are behind it,” Ramarao told Carlson.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Ramarao is calling for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding her son’s demise, asserting that significant evidence contradicts the conclusion that he died by suicide. She highlighted that her son had been disturbed by what he believed to be unethical practices at OpenAI prior to his death.
Moreover, Ramarao mentioned that her son had documents that could potentially harm the company. “He had the documents against OpenAI,” she said, adding that these files contain vital information, and efforts are underway to recover them.
Balaji, who was 26 and an AI researcher, was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, 2024. While authorities classified his death as a suicide, his family has challenged this determination due to perceived inconsistencies in the investigation. Following public concern, the San Francisco Police Department subsequently changed the status of Balaji’s case from “Closed – Suicide” to “Open and Active Investigation.”
In August 2024, Balaji left OpenAI, voicing worries about the company's alleged misappropriation of copyrighted material in its AI training. In a New York Times interview shortly before his death, Balaji remarked that OpenAI’s data practices might infringe upon copyright laws.
During her conversation with Carlson, Ramarao asserted that forensic evidence did not support the official narrative. She specifically mentioned the autopsy findings, which indicated that the bullet's angle was between 30 and 45 degrees, claiming this was inconsistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Additionally, she stated that a private autopsy uncovered further head injuries, implying possible signs of a struggle. “There is a head injury on the left side of the head,” she said.
Reflecting on her son’s final days, Ramarao recounted that he had recently returned from a trip with friends in good spirits and was making plans for the future. “He had a non-profit in mind. He didn’t want to take a salary for his work. He said, ‘Mom, I have enough resources. I want to serve humanity,’” she remembered. She questioned how someone so focused on future aspirations could choose to end his own life.
Ramarao also criticized OpenAI for not recognizing Balaji's contributions to the organization. “He was vital in the ChatGPT team... but the irony is, he was never acknowledged by OpenAI,” she remarked. According to her, OpenAI reached out to the family only concerning Balaji’s stock options, rather than to express condolences or support.
The family continues to demand an independent investigation into Balaji’s death. “We want justice. We want the death sentence to the one who killed my son, as well as imprisonment for people who are behind it,” Ramarao told Carlson.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
