OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji was captured on surveillance footage collecting his last meal hours before his death in San Francisco.
According to the Daily Mail, the 26-year-old former OpenAI employee was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in his apartment on November 26, four days after he was last seen alive.
The newly released footage shows Balaji appearing relaxed as he walked through his apartment building's lobby at 7:30 PM on November 22, wearing casual clothing and wireless earbuds. He briefly left to collect takeout food before returning to his elevator. The surveillance video marks the final time he was seen alive, with his body discovered days later after concerned parents requested a welfare check.
The San Francisco Medical Examiner ruled Balaji's death a suicide, citing toxicology reports showing alcohol and drugs in his system. Police found gunshot residue on both his hands and confirmed the bullet came from his own Glock pistol purchased earlier that year.
His parents strongly dispute these findings, arguing that the crime scene evidence suggests foul play. Photos show blood spattered across his bathroom and mysterious synthetic hair tufts near his body. The apartment appeared ransacked.
Their lawyer, Kevin Rooney, is suing the city for the full police report while continuing an independent investigation. A second autopsy was conducted in December, though those results have not been publicly released.
Just weeks before his death, Balaji had publicly criticized OpenAI's methods of training ChatGPT, warning about copyright violations and sustainability issues. He quit the company in August after working there since 2020.
The New York Times published an interview with Balaji on October 23 where he detailed his concerns. A week later, he was named as a witness in the Times' copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft.
His mother, Poornima Ramarao, believes these actions made him a target, especially after learning he had agreed to an Associated Press interview that never occurred due to his death.
Balaji spoke with his father, Balaji Ramamurthy, by phone from 7:12 PM until minutes before arriving home on November 22. They discussed his recent birthday trip and plans to meet in January, with no indication of distress.
Earlier that day at 1:33 PM, surveillance footage captured him returning from a holiday to Catalina Island, appearing relaxed as he carried his luggage through the lobby. His parents emphasize these normal behaviors contradict claims of suicide.
Security cameras in key areas of the building were reportedly not functioning during the critical period. His mother suggests that this points to long-term planning by supposed perpetrators.
The former OpenAI employee's death has drawn widespread attention and speculation, particularly in tech circles concerned about AI development. His public statements about ChatGPT's training methods and subsequent death occurring just weeks later have fueled various theories. While authorities maintain the evidence points to suicide, with no signs of forced entry and security records showing no other visitors, the family continues pressing for answers. They have spent over $85,000 on legal fees and investigators trying to prove their son was murdered.
