Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former researcher at OpenAI, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26. The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed his death as a suicide. Balaji was known for his outspoken criticism of the AI industry and its ethical issues, particularly surrounding the use of copyrighted material to train AI models.
Balaji’s death was discovered following a wellness check by the San Francisco Police Department, which had been contacted by concerned friends who hadn’t heard from him for several days. Authorities confirmed the cause of death and alerted next of kin. The news has sent shockwaves through the tech community, given Balaji’s outspoken nature and the legal issues surrounding OpenAI.
Who Was Suchir Balaji?
Suchir Balaji was an AI researcher who made significant contributions to OpenAIbefore becoming a whistleblower. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Balaji earned a reputation as a sharp …