it's nice, it's different, it's unusual

On 23 October last year (2024) the New York Times published an interview with former OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji who worked on organising and gathering data for OpenAI until 2022 when he begun thinking about the morality of it. He eventually came to the conclusion that what OpenAI is doing blatantly violates copyright law and decided to leave the company altogether in August 2024.

After he came out with this accusation he was set to appear in court to testify against OpenAI’s data-gathering practices, something which had the potential of being a complete disaster for the company and the generative AI industry as a whole.

That was until 26 November, just days before he was due to appear in court, when he suddenly and mysteriously was found dead inside his own apartment. Investigators concluded that the death was self-inflicted, something which his family has disputed.

There was also “sign of struggle in the bathroom and looks like someone hit him in the bathroom based on blood spots”, and his apartment showed signs of having been ransacked for evidence: “The pin drive is missing. His computer was messed up.”.

Overall it feels pretty clear-cut what happened, that is to say that OpenAI had him killed because he was a legitimate threat to their business, indicating that they are fully aware that the way they’re gathering data is completely illegal.

Sources:

Alys Davies, 14.12.2024, OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment. BBC News

Barney Davis, 16.1.2025, Suchir Balaji’s family demand outside investigation into OpenAI whistleblower’s death. The Independent

I WILL !!! I WILL DO THAT

some of my favourite indigenous artists, in no particular order:

Inuit artists:

the jerry cans (esp their album Inuusiq)

beatrice deer

twin flames

Māori artists:

jordyn with a why

Indigenous australian artists:

tilly tjala thomas (i particularly love ngai yurlku nhiina)

kardajala kirridarra (srlsly check out ngajabu (Grandmother's Song))

And one of her own:

Oh and of course there's also the HU and Bloodywood for people who like more rock and metal mixed in:

Most of his stuff makes you wanna dance, but his tunes are super-diverse.

CW for the voice of a deceased Elder in this one.

These are both from his debut album Gela, but his second album DJANDJAY is out on his 29th birthday next week, and every track I've listened to from it thusfar is a absolute fire 🔥💖🔥

you wanna dance, but his tunes

are super-diverse.

I go to buy what they need, only to find the prices higher than our dreams and heavier than our strength.

How can I explain to them that even bread has become distant, and that the small piece of candy they ask for is now too expensive to buy?

I wear a smile so they won’t see my worry, but my heart is suffocated by helplessness.

In Gaza, survival is another war we fight in silence… and all I can do is remain strong, so my children don’t fall.

This is Gaza, three times smaller than Hiroshima. We were hit with the equivalent of ten atomic bombs. These aren't numbers; this is the devastation that left me, personally, severely injured and in dire need of urgent surgery to save my life. Every hour that passes threatens my very existence. Hospitals are destroyed or groaning under the weight of casualties, and medical supplies are running low. Despite my repeated cries and pleas for help, I feel as if the world is watching me. Everyone is ignoring me! I've become afraid that I will die not from the bombing, but from neglect, abandonment, and helplessness. Please, help!

My campaign is vetted by : @gazavetters in line (#197) and @90-ghost (here)

Please see this thread. The IOF is closing in on Ibtisam’s location! She and her family, including her 2 disabled teenagers, are being charged $5,000 usd for emergency evacuation!! They cannot move by foot and they CANNOT be trapped under IOF occupation!! They are extremely vulnerable and you are their last desperate hope!! PLEASE DO ANYTHING YOU CAN!!!!

Current: $71,769 out of $77,229 CAD (updated 10 Sept)

Need to raise: $5,460 CAD (about $3,944 usd)

Vetting: line 231 on the vetted campaign master list by el-shab-hussein and nabulsi

Hey y'all -- I'm making this post on behalf of Sami and his family, who are currently suffering from hunger in Gaza. Their fundraiser is currently at 87%. In a world where food is so abundant it's truly terrible for some people to go without. Even by donating something small, you can help someone in buying a bag of flour to make bread for their children.