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Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

OpenAI Whistleblower’s Death Fuels ‘Conspiracy Theory’ Boosted by Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, Bay Area Congressman

The Mercury News Logo

The Mercury News Logo

Subramaniam Vincent, director, journalism and media ethics, quoted by The Mercury News and other Bay Area News Group outlets.

Despite San Francisco police repeatedly saying OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji’s death was a suicide, Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, and Bay Area Congressman, Rho Kanna are amplifying family concerns there was foul play.

Experts say many conspiracy theories gain believability because they’re fabricated around a kernel of truth.

“They want answers,” Vincent said “They feel like the non-response of the police department beyond the initial finding and the quick assessment that it was a suicide and nothing else gives them cause for concern.”

When someone considered a whistleblower dies suddenly while poised to release more information, “that’s enough for people to feel something’s up,” Vincent said. “Then come the whole army of people online.”

Subramaniam Vincent, director, journalism and media ethics, quoted by The Mercury News and other Bay Area News Group outlets.

Ethics
Media, Journalism