Controversy Surrounds Death of Former OpenAI Researcher Suchir Balaji

Suchir Balaji's death a 'cold-blooded murder'? OpenAI Whistleblower's parents claim big foul play

Suchir Balaji, an OpenAI researcher-turned-whistleblower, was found dead on November 26 at his apartment in San Francisco. This came a month after the 26-year-old spoke to The New York Times about the unfair practices of the artificial intelligence (AI) firm behind the ChatGPT chatbot. Suchir's parents have ruled out suicide and have claimed he was 'murdered'. The mother of Suchir Balaji has pleaded for help from tech mogul and world's richest man Elon Musk following her son's death. His mother took to social media and tagged Elon Musk, asking for an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation. ALSO READ: Suchir Balaji was planning to take legal action against OpenAI? Whistleblower's mother claims 'unusual activities' on devices Balaji was crucial to the lawsuits against OpenAI by major media outlets, including The New York Times, and artists and copyright owners. OpenAI has been accused of infringing the copyright law in training its chatbot. Balaji had told news agency AP that he would "try to testify" in the copyright infringement cases. He was named by The New York Times' lawyer in court documents as someone who might have "unique and relevant documents" to support the lawsuit. In her post, Balaji's mother - Poornima Rao expressed her worries and stated that "private autopsy doesn't confirm cause of death stated by police." She called for intervention from US authorities, stating that an FBI investigation is necessary to address the matter. Other than Elon Musk, she tagged American biotech entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy and Gavin Newsom - Governor of California. Balaji's parents claim that Balaji's death was a "cold-blooded murder". ALSO READ: Why Elon Musk changed his X name to 'Kekius Maximus'"We read the second autopsy, there are signs of struggle such as head injury, more details from the autopsy reveal it is murder," his mother was quoted as saying by NDTV. Recounting his last conversation with his son, Balaji Ramamurthy said, "He was returning from a birthday trip from Los Angeles where he went with his friends, he was happy. He told me he wanted to go to Las Vegas for CES (a tech show) in January. At the end, he said he was going for dinner," he said. Police stated, "no evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation". However, the San Francisco Chief Medical Examiner's Office determined Balaji's death a suicide. Balaji worked at OpenAI, the company that created ChatGPT. ALSO READ: Who was Suchir Balaji? The former OpenAI researcher who called out AI's legal grey areas On Wednesday, Balaji's parents appeared in a video posted by George Webb, who claims to be an "investigative journalist". Rao and her husband describe what they saw in Balaji's apartment, including a pool of blood and signs of struggle. Rao added that there's a pen drive, which is now missing. "We lost the pen drive. He had something on the pen drive." Update on @suchirbalaji We hired private investigator and did second autopsy to throw light on cause of death. Private autopsy doesn't confirm cause of death stated by police. Suchir's apartment was ransacked , sign of struggle in the bathroom and looks like some one hit him in bathroom based on blood spots. It's a cold blooded mu*d*r declared by authorities as suicide. Lobbying in SF city doesn't stop us from getting justices. We demand FBi investigation @elonmusk @VivekGRamaswamy @GavinNewsom @MEA The post has since gained attention, sparking a wave of responses on social media. It caught Musk's attention as well who replied saying "This doesn't seem like a suicide". Suchir Balaji's mother further pleads saying "@elonmusk please support us". ALSO READ: Elon Musk hijacking MAGA camp? Laura Loomer, one of Trump's biggest supporters, makes big charge against Tesla CEO In an interview with Business Insider last week, Rao revealed that Balaji had grown increasingly disillusioned with artificial intelligence (AI), particularly OpenAI's shift toward commercialization with ChatGPT. She said, "He felt AI is a harm to humanity," describing how her son, Suchir Balaji, transitioned from boundless optimism about AI's potential to profound skepticism. Reflecting on his tragic death, she added, "It doesn't look like a normal situation." A day after his mother demanded FBI probe into his son's death, the family of Suchir has disclosed that he was planning to take legal action against the company before his untimely death. According to Poornima Ramarao, he had compiled evidence to corroborate his claims and had also arranged interviews with major media outlets, including the Associated Press (AP), to shed light on OpenAI's alleged copyright violations. "He told me he was working on personal research," Poornima said, adding that he brushed off her concerns, assuring her that he had done nothing wrong. The family also revealed that Suchir had a document outlining his accusations and legal strategy. "He was ready to go public in a big way," his mother said. Suchir's parents were worried after not hearing from him for several days and contacted police, who discovered his body in his apartment. Poornima expressed doubts about the circumstances of his death, claiming that key details "don't add up." The family also noted unusual activity on his devices after his death, including temporary files from Google Chrome and Google Drive appearing on November 29 -- two days after his body was found. "We are investigating who accessed his desktop," Poornima said, emphasizing their commitment to conducting a thorough forensic analysis of his laptop and other devices. Poornima described her son as upbeat and happy in the days leading up to his death. He had celebrated his birthday with friends and enjoyed a vacation in Los Angeles and Catalina Island just a week prior. "He was full of life," she said. "Someone so bold and self-assured wouldn't take such a step."

Suchir Balaji was planning to take legal action against OpenAI? Whistleblower's mother claims 'unusual activities' on devices

Suchir Balaji, 26-year-old OpenAI whistleblower and researcher, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment in California on November 26. A day after his mother demanded FBI probe into his son's death, the family of Suchir has disclosed that he was planning to take legal action against the company before his untimely death. Balaji's death was ruled as a suicide by Chief Medical Examiner. However, his parents have raised suspicions of foul play, insisting their son was "courageous" and unlikely to end his own life, reported Republic World. ALSO READ: Suchir Balaji's mother Poornima alleges the Open AI researcher was murdered in cold-blood According to Suchir Balaji's mother Poornima Ramarao, he had compiled evidence to corroborate his claims and had also arranged interviews with major media outlets, including the Associated Press (AP), to shed light on OpenAI's alleged copyright violations. "He told me he was working on personal research," Poornima said, adding that he brushed off her concerns, assuring her that he had done nothing wrong. The family also revealed that Suchir had a document outlining his accusations and legal strategy. "He was ready to go public in a big way," his mother said. Suchir's parents were worried after not hearing from him for several days and contacted police, who discovered his body in his apartment. Poornima expressed doubts about the circumstances of his death, claiming that key details "don't add up." ALSO READ: Who was the last person who talked to late Open AI scholar Suchir Balaji before his death? The family noted unusual activity on his devices after his death, including temporary files from Google Chrome and Google Drive appearing on November 29 -- two days after his body was found. "We are investigating who accessed his desktop," Poornima said, emphasizing their commitment to conducting a thorough forensic analysis of his laptop and other devices. Poornima described her son as upbeat and happy in the days leading up to his death. He had celebrated his birthday with friends and enjoyed a vacation in Los Angeles and Catalina Island just a week prior. "He was full of life," she said. "Someone so bold and self-assured wouldn't take such a step." The mother of Suchir Balaji has demanded an FBI investigation into his death. In a post on X on Sunday, his mother, Poornima Ramarao, said they hired a private investigator and did a second autopsy to throw light on the cause of death. ALSO READ: Why Elon Musk says US is going bankrupt and dollar will be worth 'nothing'? Tips to protect wealth when inflation is high The private autopsy "doesn't confirm" the cause of death stated by police, she said. Ramarao also alleged that Mr Balaji's apartment - which was reportedly on the Buchanan Street - was "ransacked". "There was a sign of struggle in the bathroom and it looks like someone hit him in the bathroom based on blood spots," she said. "It's a cold-blooded murder declared by authorities as suicide. Lobbying in SF city doesn't stop us from getting justice," Ms Ramarao said while demanding an FBI probe. In her post, she tagged billionaire Elon Musk and Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who are set to be part of the incoming Donald Trump administration. Elon Musk, who has a long-standing feud with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, responded to her post, saying "This doesn't seem like a suicide". ALSO READ: Amid Prince Harry-Meghan Markle divorce buzz, another report says they are most unpopular kids in 'school' The family has vowed to uncover the truth behind Suchir's death, suspecting that his whistleblowing may have led to threats or intimidation. They have called for an independent investigation and have sought support from influential figures like Elon Musk. "This involves hundreds of billions of dollars," Poornima said. "We need someone powerful to help us get to the bottom of this." Suchir Balaji had alleged that OpenAI's AI models were trained on copyrighted material scraped from the internet without authorisation, a practice he argued was harmful. "If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company," Balaji told the New York Times in an interview this year. ALSO READ: Was OpenAI whistle-blower Suchir Balaji killed in a coldblooded fashion in his San Francisco apartment? His parents have hired private detectives, citing these reasons The Indian-origin techie quit the company in October 2023 after spending nearly four years in the company. At OpenAI, he contributed to data collection for the company's flagship product, ChatGPT. OpenAI, however, disputed his claims, insisting that their data use adhered to fair use principles and legal precedents. "We build our AI models using publicly available data, in a manner protected by fair use and related principles, and supported by longstanding and widely accepted legal precedents. We view this principle as fair to creators, necessary for innovators, and critical for US competitiveness," the company said in a statement.

Was OpenAI whistle-blower Suchir Balaji killed in a coldblooded fashion in his San Francisco apartment? His parents have hired private detectives, citing these reasons

Suchir Balaji resigned from OpenAI in August 2024 after publicly accusing the company of violating U.S. copyright laws during the development of ChatGPT.In the bustling tech hub of San Francisco, the sudden death of 26-year-old Suchir Balaji, a former researcher at OpenAI, has stirred both grief and speculation. Found dead in his apartment on November 26, 2024, Balaji's case has taken an intriguing turn as his parents have now hired private detectives to investigate further, casting doubts over the initial ruling of suicide by the San Francisco medical examiner. His parents, Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy, have vehemently disputed this conclusion, alleging foul play and calling for an FBI investigation into what they describe as a "cold-blooded murder" disguised as suicide. They said the initial police investigation lasted only 40 seconds and did not thoroughly examine the apartment. Suchir Balaji was no ordinary tech employee. He had become a notable figure for publicly accusing OpenAI of copyright violations during the development of their flagship AI, ChatGPT. His allegations centered around the company's use of copyrighted material to train its AI systems, leading to a significant legal scrutiny on OpenAI. This was particularly highlighted in Balaji's last known interview with The New York Times in October, where he expressed concerns about the ethical implications of generative AI technology, claiming it could create substitutes that compete with the data used to train them, thus harming content creators. Also Read: Has the Chinese startup DeepSeek outsmarted Meta and OpenAI? Here's all about its AI platform that was trained on a joke of a budget According to reports, Balaji was described by his colleagues as one of OpenAI's most talented researchers, contributing significantly to projects like WebGPT, which laid the groundwork for ChatGPT. His departure from OpenAI in August of the same year was marked by his outspoken criticism against the company's practices, a stance that might have put him at odds with corporate interests. His disclosures were expected to play a crucial role in ongoing legal actions against the company. The circumstances surrounding Balaji's death have been shrouded in mystery. Initially, the San Francisco Police Department conducted a welfare check at Balaji's Buchanan Street apartment, where no evidence of foul play was reported. However, the narrative took a different path when Balaji's parents, publicly questioned the suicide verdict. Their decision to hire private investigators stems from their belief that the official investigation might overlook crucial aspects like cybersecurity breaches or the pressures faced by whistleblowers in the tech industry. Also Read: Why is Microsoft reducing its dependence on ChatGPT owner OpenAI? Is there a catch, here's all you need to know According to reports from his mother, Balaji's apartment showed signs of a struggle, including blood spots in the bathroom and evidence that suggested he may have been attacked. She stated that the apartment appeared ransacked and emphasized that the findings from a private autopsy did not support the police's ruling of suicide. In her social media posts, she expressed disbelief that her son would take his own life, especially given that he had made plans to visit his family shortly after his death. Balaji had no history of mental illness and no suicide note was found. His parents believe the San Francisco police may lack the ability to conduct a thorough investigation due to potential conflicts of interest. "I was the last person to talk to him," Ramamurthy stated. "He was happy, not depressed or anything. It was his birthday week". The absence of a suicide note further fueled their suspicions. "How can anyone believe there was no note left?" he added. Balaji's parents have hired private detectives and are raising funds for further legal inquiries through platforms like GoFundMe. They are determined to uncover the truth behind their son's death and have publicly demanded an FBI investigation 139. Their efforts have garnered attention not only from the public but also from notable figures such as Elon Musk, who supported their call for further scrutiny into Balaji's death. Also Read: Is ChatGPT owner OpenAI losing its mojo? Company says GPT-5 running behind schedule, with results that don't justify the enormous costs The company expressed condolences but did not comment on the cause of death or the parents' concerns. An OpenAI spokesperson said: "We were devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news today, and our hearts go out to Suchir's loved ones during this difficult time."

Elon Musk backs Suchir Balaji's mother's demand for FBI investigation, claims, 'doesn't seem like suicide'

The sudden death of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI employee who raised concerns about AI copyright violations, has sparked controversy. His mother, Poornima Ramarao, has called for an FBI investigation, disputing the police's conclusion that it was a suicide. Elon Musk has voiced support for her claims, fueling public demand for a more thorough investigation. The circumstances surrounding Balaji's death remain unclear, with allegations of foul play complicating the case. The death of 26-year-old Suchir Balaji, a former researcher at OpenAI, has raised serious questions, particularly over the official ruling of suicide. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on 26 November, days after celebrating his 26th birthday. The San Francisco police, after reviewing CCTV footage and conducting an investigation, determined the cause of death to be suicide, stating that no evidence of foul play was found. However, his mother, Poornima Ramarao, has publicly rejected this conclusion, asserting that her son's death was a result of murder, not suicide. Poornima Ramarao has been vocal about her belief that her son was the victim of foul play. In a post on social media platform X, she shared details from a second, independent autopsy which she claimed contradicted the official cause of death. "Private autopsy doesn't confirm cause of death stated by police," Ramarao wrote. Ramarao went further, alleging that Balaji's apartment had been ransacked and that there were clear signs of a struggle in the bathroom. She described blood spots in the bathroom, leading her to suggest that her son had been attacked. "Suchir's apartment was ransacked, sign of struggle in the bathroom and looks like someone hit him in bathroom based on blood spots," she said. "It's a cold-blooded murder declared by authorities as suicide. Lobbying in SF city doesn't stop us from getting justice," she added, calling for a full investigation by the FBI. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk responded to Ramarao's post, echoing her doubts about the police's conclusion. In a tweet, Musk wrote, "This doesn't seem like a suicide." His comment has provided a significant boost to Ramarao's efforts to challenge the police ruling and has drawn further public attention to the case. Musk's involvement is notable, as he has had a longstanding relationship with OpenAI. Having co-founded the company, Musk later distanced himself from it. His support for the investigation into Balaji's death adds fuel to the growing controversy surrounding the incident. Before his untimely death, Balaji had become a prominent figure in the tech industry for his vocal stance against certain practices within OpenAI. In October 2023, he accused the company of using copyrighted data without authorisation in its AI models. In an interview with The New York Times, he claimed that OpenAI's methods of data collection for training AI models, including ChatGPT, violated copyright laws and were damaging to the internet ecosystem. Balaji, who had worked at OpenAI for nearly four years, resigned in August 2023, citing ethical disagreements with the company. He made it clear that he could no longer be part of an organisation whose practices, he believed, could harm society. "If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company," he said in his interview. The events surrounding Balaji's death have sparked a wider conversation about the ethical implications of AI technology and the treatment of whistleblowers within the tech industry. Since Ramarao's public demand for an FBI investigation, the case has gained considerable traction, with many in the tech community and beyond calling for a full and transparent inquiry. Balaji's death also raised concerns about the safety of those who speak out against unethical practices within large tech companies. Supporters of Ramarao's demand for justice have pointed out the lack of transparency and accountability in the case, urging the authorities to reconsider the initial findings. Adding to the mystery, Balaji's father, Balaji Ramamurthy, shared poignant details about his son's final days. He revealed that he had spoken with Suchir just days before his death during a phone call on 22 November. According to Ramamurthy, their conversation focused on Balaji's trip to Los Angeles to celebrate his birthday. "He was in a good mood," Ramamurthy said during a vigil held for his son in Milpitas, California. "He was in LA and having a good time. So he sent us all the pictures." These details further fuel doubts about the official narrative of suicide, as they suggest that Balaji was in good spirits prior to his death. OpenAI has disputed Balaji's claims about the company's practices. A spokesperson for the company stated that OpenAI's use of data for training its AI models is in compliance with fair use principles and legal standards. "We build our AI models using publicly available data, in a manner protected by fair use and related principles," the spokesperson said in a statement. Despite this, Balaji's accusations continue to resonate, particularly given his expertise and role in the development of AI technologies. Balaji's tragic death has become a focal point for wider debates about the role of AI in society and the ethical responsibilities of tech companies. His criticisms of OpenAI and his tragic death have highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by those who challenge corporate practices, prompting calls for stronger protections for whistleblowers within the tech industry. The case also underscores the need for a broader discussion on the ethical use of AI and the potential consequences of unchecked technological advancement. As the investigation continues, the pressure on authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent inquiry into Balaji's death only increases.

Suchir Balaji's mother Poornima alleges the Open AI researcher was murdered in cold-blood

Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old Indian American researcher and former OpenAI employee, was tragically found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, 2024. The San Francisco Chief Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a suicide. Despite this, Suchir's family has raised questions about the circumstances, urging a thorough investigation. Suchir had expressed growing unease about OpenAI's practices, particularly regarding its use of internet-sourced data for training AI models, which he believed infringed copyright laws. He resigned from OpenAI in August 2024, disillusioned by what he saw as a departure from the company's original mission of ensuring AI benefits humanity. In an October interview with The New York Times, Suchir voiced his ethical concerns, and his mother, Poornima Ramarao Balaji, now reflects on his troubled state during this period. "This is not a normal situation," she told Business Insider. Later she wrote on X, "Suchir's apartment was ransacked, a sign of struggle in the bathroom and it looks like someone hit him in the bathroom based on blood spots. It's a cold-blooded mu*d*r declared by authorities as suicide. Lobbying in SF City doesn't stop us from getting justice. We demand FBi investigation." Poornima remembered her son as a prodigious talent, displaying brilliance from a young age. At two, he spoke in complex sentences, and by 13, he had built his first computer. At 17, he joined Quora as a programmer while pursuing his education. Suchir later attended UC Berkeley, where he won a $100,000 TSA-sponsored challenge. In 2018, his expertise led him to OpenAI, where he contributed to the development of ChatGPT. However, as OpenAI's direction shifted under CEO Sam Altman, Suchir grew increasingly critical, believing the company's actions posed a risk to humanity. Poornima shared her fears about Suchir's outspoken stance, cautioning him during their last conversation to protect himself. "I told him not to go alone in his fight against corporate wrongdoing," she said. Hours before his death, Suchir celebrated his birthday and appeared cheerful, leaving his family questioning what could have gone wrong so quickly. The family has requested a private autopsy and continues to demand clarity about the events surrounding Suchir's passing. Poornima remains steadfast in her quest for answers, emphasizing, "We want to leave the question open. It doesn't look like a normal situation."

Mother of Deceased OpenAI Whistleblower Alleges Potential Murder Plot, Calls for FBI Investigation

Corporate whistleblowers can face immense pressure with few protections. The mother of OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji, who was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26, is calling for an FBI investigation into his death. Poornima Ramarao took to X on Sunday to announce that Balaji's family hired a private investigator, whose initial findings allegedly call into question a determination by the city's chief medical examiner that Balaji died by suicide. Balaji, who was just 26 years old, worked at OpenAI for four years, where he had a key part in collecting the data that would be used to train ChatGPT. He became disillusioned as OpenAI morphed from a non-profit research lab into a commercial business, however, and he resigned in August before going public in an interview with the New York Times alleging mass copyright infringement. The news outlet is currently in a heated legal battle with OpenAI alleging ChatGPT has been trained on its articles without permission. "Suchir's apartment was ransacked," the post by Ramarao (who goes by the shorter "Rao" surname on X) reads. "Sign of struggle in the bathroom and looks like some one hit him in bathroom based on blood spots." The identity of the X account has not been verified, but it did share pictures of Balaji that do not appear to be posted elsewhere online. It also linked to a GoFundMe account intended to raise funds for further investigation, which has raised more than $47,000. Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI and is currently embroiled in his own lawsuit against the AI giant, replied to Ramarao's post saying simply, "This doesn't seem like a suicide." Gizmodo contacted Ramarao and OpenAI for comment but we have not heard back. Balaji began working at OpenAI as an intern back in 2018 and joined the company full-time in 2021. Business Insider interviewed Ramarao following her son's death, and wrote that Balaji was gifted from a young age and made significant contributions to ChatGPT's training methods and infrastructure during his time there. In 2022 he had been tasked with scraping data from across the internet to use in training GPT-4, the model that would power ChatGPT's launch at the end of that year. Considering OpenAI jumpstarted Silicon Valley's generative AI race, Balaji served as a high-profile whistleblower in the fight over whether AI companies have the right to openly use content from across the web in their products. It is a highly divisive topic, with media companies claiming outright theft while tech industry insiders chalk it up to fair use. At stake are potentially tens of billions of dollars and the future of what some believe is the next major platform shift in technology. Large language models powering models like ChatGPT require immense amounts of training data, primarily written texts, in order to write like a human and produce answers to any question thrown at them. It is no surprise then that Balaji likely faced immense criticism and bullying online after going public with his concerns. Anyone who has worked in Silicon Valley has seen how the pressure to succeed can cause major stress and other mental health issues. That is not even including other risk factors like legal issues from making a whistleblower complaint; losing a job and harming future career prospects; or social isolation from peers in the industry. Is it possible that Balaji was targeted over his actions? Possibly, but conspiracies are hard to keep secret, and the dull answer is often the correct one. It is not that difficult to see how everything Balaji was going through could lead to hopelessness. His would not be the first case of a whistleblower in tech ending their own life over their moral beliefs eitherâ€"the lead scientist of Theranos, Ian Gibbons, took his own life following facing immense pressure from founder and now-convicted felon Elizabeth Holmes for raising concerns about the validity of the company's blood tests. It is not surprising that Balaji's parents would go to the lengths they have either, hoping to find answers and in disbelief that they lost their son. Maybe they will find that something more nefarious occurred. But there is no strong reason to believe that is the case at this point. Hopefully, they are able to find the closure they are looking for.

Mystery Deepens: Former OpenAI Researcher Suchir Balaji's Death Sparks Foul Play Allegations

A Mother's Quest: Unraveling the Truth Behind Suchir Balaji's Tragic End Poornima Rao, the mother of the former OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji, has denied the authorities' claim categorizing his death as suicide. Suchir, a researcher at OpenAI who participated in the ChatGPT project and other AI projects, was discovered dead in his San Francisco residence. Despite the police ruling, his mother, with the help of findings from private investigators, believes otherwise. The investigation conducted by the San Francisco Police confirmed that Suchir committed suicide. But as Poornima explained, there are signs of a fight and some contradictions for the tragedy to have happened at the scene. Notably, his apartment was in a state of burglary, and there were blood stains across the bathroom that had no apparent cause. The failure to produce a suicide note is even more baffling.

Parents of Dead OpenAI Whistleblower Refuse to Believe It Was Suicide

The parents of Suchir Balaji -- a former OpenAI employee turned whistleblower -- have said they don't believe their son committed suicide. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26. Police and the office of the chief medical examiner declared his death a suicide but Balaji's parents have disputed that verdict. "There was no suicide note left," Balaji's mother Poornima Ramarao tells ABC7. "There was nobody else at the scene but that doesn't mean they can just come to a conclusion." Ramarao goes on to say she has "seen the blood shots in the bathroom" and "signs of a fight in the bathroom". Balaji was a former OpenAI researcher who blew the whistle on the company's data scraping practices after he felt strongly that the Sam Altman-led company was violating copyright law. Part of his job was to gather enormous amounts of data for OpenAI's GPT-4 multimodal AI. At the time, he treated it as a research project and didn't think that the product he was working on would ultimately turn out to be a chatbot with an integrated AI image generator. But when the research project turned into an actual product, Balaji believed that OpenAI was threatening the very entities that it had taken the data from to build its AI tools -- including individuals, businesses, and internet services. "If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company," Balaji told The New York Times in October. Balaji was expected to play a key part in upcoming lawsuits against OpenAI. The company is facing multiple suits including one brought by The New York Times which filed a letter on November 18 to a federal court naming Balaji as a person who had "unique and relevant documents" that would support its case against OpenAI. Balaji's parents are demanding an FBI investigation into his death. Ramarao says it is because they don't believe the San Francisco police department has the resources to conduct a thorough investigation into a complex case that includes issues such as whistleblower protection and cybersecurity. The whistleblower's father Balaji Ramamurthy was the last person to speak with him on November 22 just after his son had returned from a trip to Los Angeles which was part of his birthday celebrations. "He was in L.A. and having a good time," Ramamurthy says of his 15-minute call with his son shortly after he returned from the trip. "He sent us all the pictures. He was in a good mood." San Francisco police say the investigation remains open and active at this time.