OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has, for the first time, publicly addressed the death of former employee and whistleblower Suchir Balaji, whose passing in November 2024 has been the subject of widespread speculation and controversy.
Altman’s remarks came during a heated interview with former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, who directly challenged the suicide ruling and suggested that Balaji had been murdered.
Altman: “He Was Like a Friend”
During the interview, Carlson raised Balaji’s complaints against OpenAI, including allegations of copyright violations and unpaid contributions, and linked them to his death.
Altman expressed sorrow over Balaji’s death, saying:
“He was like a friend of mine. Not a close friend, but someone who worked at OpenAI for a long time. I was really shaken by this tragedy. I spent a lot of time reading everything I could, as I’m sure you and others did too, about what happened. It looks like a suicide to me.”
Carlson Challenges Suicide Ruling
Carlson repeatedly questioned the official narrative, pointing out alleged inconsistencies in the case.
“He had just returned from a vacation with friends, ordered takeout food, and there was no indication that he was suicidal,” Carlson said. “There were signs of a struggle, cut surveillance wires, and blood found in multiple rooms. This doesn’t look like suicide to me.”
He also cited Balaji’s mother, Poornima Ramarao, who has publicly rejected the suicide finding and alleged lapses in the investigation:
“Everybody is suppressed. Nobody is ready to come up and tell the truth. Even the attorneys have been made to tell that it is a suicide,” she said in a separate interview with Carlson.
Altman Defends Official Findings
Despite Carlson’s sharp questions, Altman maintained that the official investigation pointed to suicide:
“You understand how this sounds like an accusation?” Altman asked Carlson, pushing back against the implication that OpenAI was involved. “It was a gun he had purchased,” he added, reiterating that the evidence supports the police report.
Case Remains Contentious
Balaji, an Indian-origin researcher, had worked at OpenAI for four years before his death. Weeks before he was found dead in his San Francisco apartment, he had accused the company of copyright violations and exploitation of creators’ work.
While police closed the case as a suicide, Balaji’s family continues to demand a fresh investigation, claiming that crucial evidence was ignored. The case remains a flashpoint in debates about whistleblower protections and corporate accountability in the AI industry.
