Mother Seeks FBI Probe into OpenAI Researcher's Death, Calls on Elon Musk for Support

The tragic death of 26-year-old Suchir Balaji, a researcher at OpenAI, has prompted his mother to demand a deeper investigation. Balaji was found deceased in his San Francisco apartment earlier this month, and while authorities initially ruled it a suicide, his family alleges foul play and is calling for justice.

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…

— Poornima Rao (@RaoPoornima) December 29, 2024

Mother’s Plea for Investigation

Balaji’s mother has taken to social media, tagging high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, as well as India’s Ministry of External Affairs. She is urging the FBI to investigate the case further, citing discrepancies in the official findings.

“We hired a private investigator and conducted a second autopsy, which contradicts the police’s conclusion,” she stated. Her claims include signs of a struggle in Balaji’s apartment, blood spots in the bathroom, and a ransacked living space, which she believes point to murder. “This is a cold-blooded murder declared as suicide by the authorities,” she alleged.

Balaji’s Concerns About AI

In an interview with Business Insider, Balaji’s mother shared that her son had grown increasingly critical of artificial intelligence, particularly OpenAI’s shift toward commercialization with ChatGPT. “He felt AI is a harm to humanity,” she said, describing how his initial enthusiasm for AI evolved into profound skepticism.

Despite the San Francisco Police Department’s statement that no evidence of foul play was found, Balaji’s family is determined to pursue the matter. His mother is rallying public support, leveraging social media to amplify her call for accountability. “@elonmusk, please support us,” she pleaded.

The case has sparked widespread attention, highlighting both the human impact of a rapidly evolving tech industry and the challenges families face in seeking justice for their loved ones.