Saudi OpenAI engineer arrested by FBI for planting covert recording device, US DOJ says - Reuters

U.S. federal authorities have arrested a 35‑year‑old Saudi national who was employed as an engineer at OpenAI, charging him with installing a covert audio‑recording device in an executive conference room at the company’s San Francisco campus. The Department of Justice announced the arrest on October 13, stating that the suspect, identified as Abdulrahman Alfozan, had been with OpenAI since July 2025.

OpenAI discovered the device on September 30 when a routine inspection revealed a thumb‑sized unit plugged into a USB port on the back of a television in the conference room. According to the FBI complaint, the device was concealed in a roll of toilet paper, contained a microphone, could be linked to a camera, and stored its data in encrypted form that was not immediately accessible.

Investigators determined that the device had been installed on or about September 28. A subsequent search of Alfozan’s personal belongings uncovered a similar customized recording unit in his bag. The Justice Department’s statement noted that an email sent to an address associated with Alfozan’s name did not receive a response, and his legal representation has not been identified.

OpenAI said it employed its internal artificial‑intelligence models to trace the origin of the device and identify the individual responsible for planting it. The company posted a brief statement on the social media platform X confirming that its analysis linked the device to Alfozan.

The case underscores growing concerns about the security of sensitive AI research, as corporations and governments vie for talent and technology that could provide economic and strategic advantages. Authorities have not disclosed whether any additional individuals or entities are under investigation in connection with the incident.

Alfozan remains in federal custody pending further legal proceedings. The Department of Justice has not provided details on potential charges beyond the alleged installation of the recording device, and no court date has been set at this time.