Big Tech whistleblower’s parents sound alarm after son’s unexpected death

The parents of a young California tech whistleblower, Suchir Balaji, whose 2024 death was ruled a suicide are now taking legal action against the City and County of San Francisco. They are alleging that public records laws were violated when their requests for information about their son’s death were denied.

Suchir Balaji, 26, was an employee at OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, at the time of his death. The San Francisco County medical examiner concluded that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside his apartment.

The lawsuit filed by Balaji’s parents claims that they have been obstructed in their efforts to obtain more information about the cause and circumstances of their son’s death. They believe that there are inconsistencies that suggest his death may not have been a suicide but a homicide.

According to their attorney, Kevin Rooney, there are details known to them that do not align with a suicide ruling. Balaji was described as a child prodigy with a talent for coding, and he had become disillusioned with OpenAI’s business practices leading up to his death.

The lawsuit also alleges that investigators did not take seriously the concerns raised by Balaji’s parents about his status as a whistleblower against OpenAI. They claim that their requests for information were unfairly denied under the California Public Records Act.

A private autopsy conducted by a forensic pathologist hired by Balaji’s parents revealed that the gunshot wound was atypical for suicides. The trajectory of the bullet and other findings raised questions about the ruling of suicide.

OpenAI, in a statement, described Balaji as a valued member of their team and expressed sadness over his passing. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit filed by Balaji’s parents seeks to obtain the information they believe is being withheld from them and to shed light on the circumstances surrounding their son’s death. The case highlights the challenges faced by families seeking answers in cases of suspected suicide and the importance of transparency in investigations.