OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji found dead in apartment
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Sunday, December 15, 2024
Image: OpenAI.
On Saturday, police said 26-year-old OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji was found dead in his apartment in San Francisco, California, United States when they arrived there to conduct a "wellbeing check".
San Francisco's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner office ruled his death a suicide. Police said they found no evidence of foul play.
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence company.
His death was confirmed by OpenAI. A spokesperson said "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".
He spent four years working as a researcher for the company. He left the company in August. He studied computer science at the University of California in Berkeley.
Balaji was publicly critical of OpenAI's business practices, alleging the company violated US copyright law. Further, he said ChatGPT would render many people and firms commercially unviable by using their content to improve AI.
OpenAI had been involved in lawsuits relating to data-sharing, and North American news publishers filed lawsuits against the company, alleging illegal use of their articles for software training. The company argued that the software was "grounded in fair use and related international copyright principles that are fair for creators and support innovation."
Sources
edit- Alys Davies. "OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment" — BBC, December 14, 2024
- Mickey Carroll. "OpenAI whistleblower found dead in apartment" — Skynews, December 14, 2024