Sam Altman Denies Conspiracy Theory Linking OpenAI to Researcher’s Death

Sam Altman Denies Conspiracy Theory Linking OpenAI to Researcher's Death

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

During a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed a disturbing conspiracy theory connected to the death of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher. Balaji, who had previously accused OpenAI of copyright infringement, died in November 2024; the San Francisco police ruled the death a suicide. Carlson directly questioned Altman about allegations that Balaji was “definitely murdered,” implying involvement by Altman himself, citing alleged beliefs of Balaji’s mother. Altman firmly denied the claims, referencing the official police investigation. The exchange underscores the escalating paranoia and outlandish conspiracy theories emerging alongside the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Balaji’s prior public criticisms of OpenAI’s data usage practices and their broader implications for the internet add another layer to the complex narrative.