Recently, the official press office of OpenAI issued a statement addressing the tragic death of the whistleblower via their official channels.

Translation of the Response

Upon hearing this heartbreaking news, we were profoundly shaken and have immediately reached out to Suchir's family to offer our unwavering support during this agonizing time. Our utmost priority now is to continue extending every possible assistance to them.

Suchir was a highly esteemed member of our team, and his untimely passing has left a profound impact on his colleagues who worked closely with him.

We first became aware of his concerns when his statements were published in The New York Times. Since then, we have not had any further communication with him. We respect his right, and the right of others, to freely express their opinions.

Our deepest condolences go out to Suchir's loved ones and to all those who are grieving his loss.

Key Points:

• OpenAI expresses profound shock over the tragic news and has contacted Suchir's family to offer full support during this difficult period.
• OpenAI states that, despite Suchir's criticisms through the media, they did not have any further interaction with him after his initial public comments.

Event Recap

On November 26, 2024, Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former researcher at OpenAI, was discovered deceased in his San Francisco apartment. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as suicide.

Balaji was an OpenAI employee involved in projects like ChatGPT but resigned over concerns regarding the company's use of news and other website information to train AI models, which he believed contravened the principle of "fair use".

Post-resignation, Balaji publicly voiced his concerns about OpenAI and became a pivotal figure in a copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI filed by The New York Times.

Response Sparks Renewed Criticism

Balaji's death has sparked widespread concern and discourse, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding his death and suspecting deeper issues may be at play.

Over ten days later, as the initial fervor subsided, OpenAI chose to address the situation, focusing on distancing themselves from the matter. This stance has triggered a fresh wave of criticism on foreign social media platforms.

Exclusive Interview

Foreign media outlet Business Insider has released an exclusive interview with Balaji's mother. Amid their profound grief, his parents expressed their hope that the official investigation into their son's death continues. They have arranged for a private autopsy and urged the police to reopen the investigation.