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By Max Frost
It was one of the more shocking clips, even for Tucker Carlson’s show.
The conversation revolved around Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old AI whiz who was found dead in his apartment last November. That fall, he had resigned from OpenAI, revealed to The New York Times how the tech company was stealing copyrighted content, and was named as a key witness in that outlet’s major lawsuit against OpenAI. A month later, he was found dead in his apartment from a gunshot wound. Police ruled it a suicide.
Balaji’s mom didn’t believe that – and neither did Tucker Carlson.
When OpenAI CEO Sam Altman came on Tucker’s show, Tucker didn’t hold back.
“So, you've had complaints from one programmer who said you guys were basically stealing people's stuff and not paying them, and then he wound up murdered,” Carlson said. “What was that?”
“A great tragedy,” Altman said. “He committed suicide.”
Tucker: “Do you think he committed suicide?”
Altman: “I really do. This was like a friend of mine. This is like a guy that, and not a close friend, but this is someone that worked at OpenAI for a very long time. I mean, I was really shaken by this tragedy…it looks like a suicide to me.”
Tucker: “Why does it look like a suicide?”
Altman: “It was a gun he had purchased. It was the – this is gruesome to talk about, but I read the whole medical record. Does it not look like one to you?”
Tucker: “No, he was definitely murdered, I think. There were signs of a struggle, of course. The surveillance camera, the wires had been cut. He had just ordered take out food, come back from a vacation with his friends on Catalina Island. No indication at all that he was suicidal. No note and no behavior. He had just spoken to a family member on the phone. And then he’s found dead with blood in multiple rooms. So that’s impossible. It seems really obvious he was murdered.”
Tucker: “His mother claims he was murdered on your orders.”
Altman: “Do you believe that?”
Tucker: “I’m just asking…”
Altman: “I haven't done too many interviews where I've been accused of, like…”
Tucker: “Oh, I'm not accusing you at all. I'm just saying his mother says that. I don't think a fair read of the evidence suggests suicide at all.”
In today’s deep-dive, we look at the facts of the case and sit down with Mary Inman – one of the nation’s leading attorneys representing whistleblowers against companies including Meta and Theranos – to get her thoughts.
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Editor’s Note
Thank you all for reading. Curious to hear your thoughts on this one: Do you think companies like OpenAI would actually kill someone who threatens their ambitions? Or is that belief a general symptom of a broader anti-establishment and conspiratorial thinking? Let us know by replying here.
A bunch of you wrote in yesterday about Pritzker. Sharing a few of those replies below.
Tracy says:
Governor Pritzker has been a staunche advocate for worker rights, womens rights, LGTBQ, immigrants...all of the things we need to support and provide a diverse, thriving state. Am I conflicted by the fact he also happens to be a billionaire? Perhaps - but he puts his billions where his mouth is, and I've seen no evidence to the contrary. I applaud that he has been so outspoken against the current regime, and he's been a great partner to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. If he were to run for president, I would fully support him.
While Jean wrote:
All you need to do is look at the state of Illinois, the entire state to see what a fiasco awaits the country if Pritzker becomes president.
Some of the highest property tax in the country, the highest gas tax in the country (while our road infrastructure crumbles), the crime rate in Chicago (while Pritzker maintains "it's safe, it's safe").
Look at it and find your answer. We need brains, not billions; don't look to Pritzker for that.
And Tina says:
I think he’s the only one who has a shot at beating trump and his minions. I know Newsome and Beshear are also toying with a presidential run but only Pritzker can obliterate trumpy dumpy on a public forum. I hope he does run, we need someone who can fight back, someone who is wicked smart, his wealth will be an asset.
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Thanks and see you tomorrow.
—Max and Max
