OpenAI Misses Deadline to Release Suchir’s Personal Records

OpenAI has missed a 21-day legal deadline to release the personal records of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher turned whistleblower, according to a statement by his mother, Poornima Rao, on X. Despite legal eligibility and internal acknowledgment by OpenAI’s attorneys, the company’s HR department has reportedly not complied with the request.

Rao claimed the request was made on behalf of Suchir’s estate and was well within legal rights. “Their attorneys agreed that we were eligible to receive them. HR is not releasing them. HR reports to Sam Altman,” she stated. 

The delay has now prompted the family to go public, igniting what they describe as a movement for justice.

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In her statement, Rao also suggested OpenAI may be avoiding disclosure due to concerns over its public image, especially as it reportedly considers going public. “They want to cover up even here,” she wrote, referring to what she believes to be the company’s leadership’s deliberate withholding of information.

The family’s frustration has escalated, resulting in demands for more awareness and public pressure. Rao shared that they were preparing the next steps in consultation and planning to take the issue to platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and more. “We won’t stop until we get justice for Suchir,” she declared. “People’s support will compel courts to oblige.” This statement also follows the family’s recent move to adopt crypto to fund and sustain their legal efforts. 

Further, she called out OpenAI’s Chief People Officer, noting the irony in her public image as a compassionate parent while allegedly denying another parent access to their late child’s records. Rao asked, “Can’t she understand and support?”

Meanwhile, the case is gaining traction online, with increasing public scrutiny on OpenAI’s internal operations, transparency, and accountability. This is especially now as the company navigates intense regulatory and public interest ahead of a rumored IPO.

As Suchir Balaji’s family presses on, two questions loom. Will OpenAI release the records and acknowledge the family’s legal and moral claim? Or will it continue to remain silent?

Suchir Balaji became a whistleblower against OpenAI’s practices after leaving the company in August 2024. He publicly denounced the company’s “fair use” policy, which allowed it to train its AI models on the original works of journalists, artists, and other content producers. However, in November 2024, Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment under suspicious circumstances.  

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