New York: The mother of Suchir Balaji a former employee at ChatGPT-parent OpenAI who accused the company of violating copyright laws in October and was found dead a month later, has demanded an FBI investigation into his death.
The 26-year-old OpenAI whistleblower and researcher was found dead in his San Francisco apartment in California on November 26. Officials had ruled Balaji's death a suicide.
In a post on X on Sunday, his mother, Poornima Ramarao, said they hired a private investigator and did a second autopsy to throw light on the cause of death.
The private autopsy "doesn't confirm" the cause of death stated by police, she said.
Ramarao also alleged that Balaji's apartment - which was reportedly on Buchanan Street - was "ransacked."
"There was a sign of struggle in the bathroom and it looks like someone hit him in the bathroom based on blood spots," she said.
"It's a cold-blooded murder declared by authorities as suicide. Lobbying in SF city doesn't stop us from getting justice," Ramarao said while demanding an FBI probe.
According to media reports, Balaji's father, Balaji Ramamurthy, while speaking at a vigil held for his son in Milpitas, California, said he was the last person to talk to him on November 22. During the 15-minute call, he said they talked about his Los Angeles trip which was part of his birthday celebration.
"He was in LA and having a good time. So he sent us all the pictures," Guardian quoted Mr Ramamurthy as saying. "He was in a good mood."