Suchir Balaji, a former researcher at OpenAI who gained attention for whistleblowing against the artificial intelligence company, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26. He was 26 years old.
According to David Serrano Sewell, executive director of San Francisco’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Balaji’s death has been ruled a suicide. Police responded to a “wellbeing check” at an apartment on Buchanan Street, where they discovered Balaji’s body. Authorities confirmed there was no evidence of foul play.
In a statement to CNBC, OpenAI expressed its condolences, 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.” Balaji’s family has requested privacy during their time of grief.
Balaji’s death comes three months after he publicly accused OpenAI of infringing U.S. copyright laws in the development of ChatGPT. He argued that the company unlawfully used copyrighted materials to train the program, leading to lawsuits from various creators and claims that the company’s approach harmed businesses and violated fair use laws.
In October, Balaji published an analysis on his website supporting his claims and warned that ChatGPT’s model was unsustainable for the broader internet ecosystem.
The investigation into his death remains ongoing.
