A Saudi engineer at OpenAI has been arrested and charged with planting a hidden recording device in a conference room at the company's San Francisco offices, according to the US FBI.
01Summary
- 01Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, a legal US permanent resident, worked at OpenAI as an engineer from July 2025.
- 02OpenAI discovered a thumb-sized listening device plugged into a USB port behind a television in an executive conference room on September 30.
- 03A camera placed by OpenAI captured Alfozan entering the room and checking behind the television last week, the FBI alleges.
- 04The FBI found a similar encrypted device in Alfozan's personal bag and says he used an AI tool to inquire about building addresses and meeting rooms.
- 05Alfozan faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted; his next court appearance is on October 19.
02Why it matters
This case underscores the heightened security risks around sensitive AI research, as nation-states and companies compete for advanced technology that can alter economic and strategic power balances.
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