A former OpenAI engineer, Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, is accused of conspiring to bug the company’s conference rooms with the alleged help of a member of the Saudi military. This information came to light through federal prosecutors, who indicated that Alfozan maintained regular communication with individuals connected to the Saudi royal family as he plotted to secretly record sensitive meetings at the prominent AI organization.
In a court document made public recently, it was revealed that a Saudi military official had purchased a one-way business class ticket for Alfozan’s wife and son, indicating plans for them to return to Saudi Arabia prior to his arrest. Interestingly, Alfozan’s family left the U.S. just 36 hours after his detention.
Prosecutors noted that Alfozan intended to travel from San Francisco to Riyadh (via Istanbul) with his family on October 12, 2026. However, his arrest by the FBI three days earlier thwarted those plans.
According to prosecutors, Alfozan not only sought to create encrypted recording devices but also communicated with significant figures in Saudi Arabia while exploring travel opportunities to the kingdom.
There were also claims that a Saudi royal sought to recruit Alfozan for an AI-related role, with messages indicating that “Saudi needs you more than the US!” Alfozan reportedly expressed interest in such communications.
Fired from OpenAI, Alfozan had also served as a venture partner at RAED Ventures in Riyadh with Prince Khalid bin Bader Al Saud. While the names of the Saudi officials in contact with Alfozan remained undisclosed, his connections were noted to be extensive.
Alfozan, who had advanced degrees from UC Berkeley and MIT, had a decade-long career in Silicon Valley before joining OpenAI last year, where he earned a substantial salary of $385,000, plus a sizeable equity grant.
Charges filed against him on October 9 allege that he placed a tiny recording device inside conference rooms at OpenAI’s headquarters, hiding it among toilet paper in a USB port of a television. He allegedly utilized chatbots to plan these secret recordings, asking about the company’s meeting room specifications and schedules.
Authorities reported that OpenAI staff discovered these devices bearing branding from Seeed Studio, a supplier of AI recording tools. Surveillance footage captured Alfozan around a conference room where key discussions on proprietary research and government relations took place.
The company has stated that there was no indication Alfozan accessed confidential data, emphasizing their commitment to national security and vigilance against potential insider threats. They cautioned employees to be on guard against foreign entities trying to obtain corporate secrets. Meanwhile, the Saudi government’s press office has not yet commented on the situation.
