‘Device missing sensitive information’: Journalist on death of OpenAI whistleblower | World News

A former employee was found dead in his San Francisco apartment last November amid the controversy over the OpenAI whistleblower, but authorities ruled the death a suicide.

However, the Indian-origin researcher’s parents broke their silence and claimed it was a “cold-blooded murder”.

In an interview with India Today, journalist George Webb noted that a backup device believed to contain “sensitive information” related to the lawsuit against ChatGPT creator OpenAI has “disappeared.”

He added that the whistleblower was preparing equipment for a meeting with the New York Times.

Mr Webb also supported the researcher’s mother’s claim that her son’s apartment was found “ransacked”.

He said: “The apartment had been ransacked. Blood stains suggested he had crawled out of the bathroom in search of help. His injuries, including gunshot wounds, were more likely an interrogation tactic than suicide.” It seemed like a match.”

Webb also criticized San Francisco police for “prematurely” labeling the death a “suicide.”

He said: “The police deliberation time was only 14 minutes. They did not check to see if there was any bullet residue on his hands, nor did they conduct a ballistics test to confirm that the bullet matched the weapon. It was not carried out.”

However, Webb also denied that OpenAI played a role in his death.

“I really don’t think OpenAI, which has so many lawsuits, is going to make a martyr out of suture biology to help the lawsuits,” he said.

Webb also said the timing of the lawsuit “couldn’t be worse” since OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is a member of incoming San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s transition team. .