A former OpenAI engineer has been detained in the United States after prosecutors said he secretly placed recording devices in executive meeting spaces at OpenAI’s San Francisco office. Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, was arrested on 9 October and charged with illegally intercepting oral communications. The criminal complaint indicates that one device was installed in an executive conference room as early as 28 September, with recording continuing at least through 5 October. A second similar device was later found in a bag left unattended at the company. Alfozan joined OpenAI in July 2025 and was fired following his arrest.
US prosecutors said Alfozan maintained extensive communications with a member of the Saudi royal family throughout 2025 and 2026, including as recently as 5 October. They alleged the individual urged him to join a Saudi AI initiative and offered repeated recruitment attempts, asserting that Saudi needs him more than the US.
Travel planning and parental leave documents were cited to argue he posed a flight risk, noting a one-way ticket to Riyadh and that his wife and infant son had departed for Saudi Arabia shortly before his arrest. The current charge, a felony for intercepting oral communications with a device, carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. A federal magistrate approved keeping him in custody during the trial.
The case underscores concerns about insider threats within high‑profile AI firms and the potential for foreign state interests to seek access to sensitive conversations and proprietary information. Prosecutors characterised Alfozan’s conduct as dangerous to U.S. national security, while OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.