In a tense and revealing interview, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman found himself on the defensive when confronted about the death of a former company programmer who had accused the AI giant of stealing copyrighted material.
During an episode of the Tucker Carlson show, the conversation took an unexpected turn when the interviewer brought up the death of a programmer who had worked at OpenAI and later became a whistleblower, accusing the company of using copyrighted material without compensation. The programmer was subsequently found dead in what authorities ruled a suicide, but the circumstances have raised questions that continue to haunt the case.
“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. What was that?” the interviewer asked directly.
Altman’s response was measured but clearly uncomfortable: “Also, a great tragedy. He committed suicide.” However, when pressed on whether he believed it was actually suicide, Altman maintained his position despite acknowledging the suspicious circumstances had initially concerned him.
The interviewer challenged this conclusion, pointing to evidence that seemed inconsistent with suicide: “He was definitely m*rdered, I think. There were signs of a struggle, of course. The surveillance camera, the wires had been cut. He had just ordered takeout food, come back from a vacation with his friends on Catalina Island. No indication at all that he was suicidal.”
Perhaps most striking was the revelation that the deceased programmer’s mother had reached out directly, claiming her son was killed on Altman’s orders. When asked about this allegation, Altman appeared genuinely shaken but maintained his innocence while acknowledging the gravity of such accusations.
The exchange became particularly awkward when Altman, who described the programmer as a friend, defended the official suicide ruling while admitting he had not spoken to authorities about the case. “I haven’t done too many interviews where I’ve been accused of like—” Altman began, before being assured that no direct accusation was being made, only questions about the unusual circumstances.
The technology industry has long faced scrutiny over its treatment of whistleblowers and critics, but the stakes seem higher as AI capabilities rapidly expand.
Throughout the uncomfortable discussion, Altman struggled to balance showing respect for the deceased and his family while defending both himself and his company.