OpenAI Engineer Arrested After Secret Recording Device Discovery

(CCTV images of the Suspect. Photo by France 24)

A Saudi national working as an engineer at OpenAI has been arrested after allegedly hiding a recording device in one of the company's San Francisco offices.

OpenAI and US federal prosecutors confirmed the case on Tuesday.

OpenAI's security team found the device late last month and referred the matter to the FBI.

The employee, Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, was arrested on October 9.

He had worked at OpenAI since July 2025.

According to the Justice Department, he hid a USB device wrapped in toilet paper inside a television in an executive conference room.

He was not allowed to attend meetings there, but he was caught on camera near the room several times.

He also allegedly used a productivity tool to look up office layouts, calendars and people's locations.

A chatbot account linked to his spouse reportedly contained searches about remote audio recording.

Security staff later found a second device in a bag that belonged to him.

OpenAI said it has no sign that he accessed model weights, source code or customer data, though it is not clear what the device recorded.

Alfozan has been charged with using a device to intercept oral communications.

The charge carries up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

He is due in federal court on October 19.

The Justice Department did not accuse him or Saudi Arabia of spying.