Autopsy: OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji died of suicide

SAN FRANCISCO — A final autopsy report released Friday afternoon for Suchir Balaji — the OpenAI whistleblower who claimed the company violated federal copyright laws — concluded the 26-year-old man died by suicide inside his San Francisco apartment.

The San Francisco County Medical Examiner’s report said Balaji died Nov. 26, 2024 of a single self-inflicted gunshot.

The medical examiner’s report runs counter to claims Balaji’s family has made that questioned the circumstances of his death and fueled a growing number of theories on social media about how he may have died. His parents commissioned a separate autopsy of their son’s body, though it has not been made available to this news organization.

In an accompanying letter to the attorneys for Balaji’s parents, Poornima Ramarao and Bajami Ramamurthy, San Francisco police Chief Bill Scott said the medical examiner’s findings — paired with his own department’s work — led him to conclude “there is insufficient evidence to find Mr. Balaji’s death was the result of homicide.”

“We realize that this information is difficult to receive, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Balaji family,” Scott wrote. “We hope that this response may help bring some amount of closure to his grieving parents, friends and family.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Reach the lifeline at 800-273-8255 or see the SuicidePreventionLifeline.org website.

Check back for updates to this developing story.