OpenAI Faces Legal Scrutiny Over Delayed Release of Whistleblower Records Amid IPO Speculation

OpenAI has failed to meet a 21-day legal deadline to disclose personal records of Suchir Balaji, a former researcher turned whistleblower. The delay, confirmed by Balaji's mother Poornima Rao in a public statement, comes despite internal acknowledgment by OpenAI's legal team that the request was valid. "Their attorneys agreed we were eligible to receive them. HR is not releasing them," Rao stated, directly implicating CEO Sam Altman as HR's reporting line.

The family's decision to escalate the matter publicly suggests growing frustration with OpenAI's opacity. Rao hinted at potential reputational motives behind the delay, noting the timing coincides with rumored IPO preparations. "They want to cover up even here," she wrote, framing the situation as part of a broader pattern of secrecy.

Legal pressure mounts as the family prepares multiplatform advocacy campaigns across YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. "We won't stop until we get justice for Suchir," Rao declared, signaling a shift from private negotiations to public confrontation. The case emerges as a litmus test for corporate accountability in the AI sector.