Tucker Carlson told OpenAI CEO Sam Altman that Suchir Balaji’s death was “definitely murder”; Altman denied it and cited the official finding
San Francisco police and the medical examiner ruled Balaji’s death a suicide (self-inflicted gunshot); no evidence of foul play reported
Balaji’s parents dispute the ruling, commissioned a private review, and allege inconsistencies
Balaji was a former OpenAI researcher who had publicly raised concerns about the company’s data practices
Tucker Carlson told OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a broadcast exchange this week that the death of former OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji, which local authorities said was a death by suicide, was “definitely murder,” repeating claims made by Balaji’s mother and critics.
Altman replied bluntly that he had “not done too many interviews where I have been accused of murder,” and defended the official findings that investigators found no evidence of foul play.
On Carlson’s programme, the host urged Altman to answer sharp questions about the circumstances of Balaji’s November 2024 death, citing assertions from the researcher’s mother about apparent “signs of a struggle” and cut camera wires. Carlson told Altman his guest believed Balaji was murdered and asked why investigators had closed the case.
Altman responded that he had reviewed the publicly available record and that the evidence pointed to suicide; he also noted how the allegation sounded when levelled at him personally.
Official findings
San Francisco police and the city medical examiner concluded Balaji died by suicide; investigators said the cause was a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound and that there was no evidence of foul play, noting that the apartment’s door had been deadbolted from the inside.
The official autopsy and investigators’ review, cited by local authorities and national outlets, closed the case after toxicology and scene analysis. Balaji’s parents, however, have disputed the conclusion, commissioned a private review and publicly called for an outside probe; they continue to assert concerns about inconsistencies.
Who was Balaji
Balaji, 26, had worked at OpenAI for several years and later voiced public concerns about the company’s data and copyright practices, complaints that fed into wider lawsuits and debate over how AI models are trained.
His whistleblowing and subsequent public profile led to heightened scrutiny when he died, with some commentators and family members alleging that unanswered questions warranted further investigation. Authorities and mainstream news outlets report, however, that investigators found no sign of third-party involvement.
Debate & Risks
The exchange illustrates how high-profile deaths tied to major tech controversies can rapidly become focal points for competing narratives, official findings, family beliefs, media amplification and political commentary.
Experts caution that public accusations against individuals or institutions should be anchored to verified evidence; Altman and others have pushed back against insinuations that link corporate leaders to criminal acts without corroboration.
Balaji’s family has continued to press for outside investigation, while San Francisco officials say their review is complete. The case remains a source of public debate about whistleblower protections, corporate transparency and how media platforms cover contested deaths.
For now, major outlets and law-enforcement statements stand by the conclusion that he died by suicide even as private claims and political commentary keep the story in the headlines.
