San Francisco authorities have officially closed the investigation into the death of Suchir Balaji, the 26-year-old former OpenAI employee who made whistleblower claims about the company. An autopsy report released by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) confirmed that Balaji died by suicide, with the cause of death attributed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) also concluded its inquiry, finding no evidence to support claims of homicide.
Balaji’s death, which occurred under suspicious circumstances last month, sparked widespread public interest and controversy. His parents, however, have contested the findings, insisting that their son was murdered. They have raised concerns over potential lapses in the investigation, including the failure to acquire CCTV footage from the building where Balaji resided and the absence of a suicide note.
In an official statement, the SFPD confirmed that their investigation yielded insufficient evidence to suggest foul play. "Based on the information reviewed by the SFPD, there is no evidence to support the theory that Mr. Balaji's death was a result of homicide," the statement read.
Balaji’s death came shortly after he left OpenAI, where he had worked for four years. His decision to resign followed his allegations that the company was using copyrighted materials without authorization to train its AI chatbot. At the time of his death, Balaji was listed in a legal filing related to a lawsuit that questioned OpenAI’s practices. The suit was filed by a group of well-known authors, including best-selling writer John Grisham.
In response to the findings, Balaji's mother, Poornima Rao, expressed her dissatisfaction with the investigation, calling for transparency and further examination of the evidence. She also criticized the police for what she considered inaccuracies in their reports.
As the case closes, questions surrounding Balaji’s death continue to linger, especially among those who believe the investigation was rushed or incomplete.
