In a fresh set of tweets on X, OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji’s mother, Poornima Rao issued the clarion call to support a California Assembly bill to stop OpenAI from converting into a “for-profit” company, an issue she claims her son deeply cared about.
Rao took to X on Tuesday, urging netizens to sign an open letter supporting California Assembly Bill 501 that is meant to stop OpenAI LLC from converting into a “for profit” company. She also claimed that OpenAI is trying to steal the assets of humanity.
She also accused OpenAI of trying to “suppress dissenting voices” and kill the bill brought forward in the California Assembly.
26-year-old Suchir Balaji, an American citizen, was a researcher at OpenAI and had quit the organization in 2024 over ethical concerns emerging due to alleged copyright violation by the company. Later, Balaji turned into a whistleblower against OpenAI flagging their violation of copyright laws by lifting content from artists and journalists.
On November 26 last year, Balaji’s body was found under mysterious circumstances at his apartment in San Francisco with a handgun registered under his name. The San Francisco police have shut the case, calling it a suicide; however, Balaji’s parents have suspected foul play in the case and demanded an FBI investigation in the case.
What is the California Assembly Bill 501 against OpenAI?
The open letter posted by Poornima Rao mentions that, instead of making money for themselves, nonprofits should pursue their philanthropic goals. Businesses such as OpenAI were founded with the legally enforceable promise to serve people, not stockholders.
California Assembly Bill 501 seeks to stop OpenAI officials from turning a ten-year-old nonprofit organization whose legal purpose is to create artificial general intelligence for the good of humanity into a means of enriching themselves.
This letter also mentions that, in order to protect nonprofit organizations’ integrity, one should make sure they continue to be accountable to their original humanitarian goals.
Conclusion
As the debate over AI ethics intensifies, Suchir Balaji’s bold stand raises crucial questions about the balance between innovation and intellectual property rights. His whistleblowing initiates a continuous dialogue about how companies such as OpenAI balance progress and fairness.
Also read : OpenAI Whistleblower’s Mom Attacks Sam Altman over “For Profit”
