Saudi National Accused of Planting Recording Device at OpenAI Allegedly Received Saudi Government Support

A Saudi national accused of secretly installing a recording device in an OpenAI conference room allegedly received “substantial support” from the Saudi government, according to a court submission in California.

U.S. prosecutors allege that Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old engineer who worked for an AI company, was in “frequent contact with members of the Saudi royal family.” They also said Saudi military officials paid for a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia for his wife and son after his arrest.

Prosecutors argued that Alfozan was a flight risk and should remain detained pending trial. The Saudi government did not immediately respond to the BBC’s request for comment.

Recording device allegedly found in OpenAI conference room

Alfozan had worked at OpenAI for about a year before he allegedly attempted to install an audio recorder.

The AI company discovered the device on September 30. It was connected to the back of a conference room television and covered with toilet paper.

Cameras had been installed in the room. On October 5, Alfozan was filmed entering the room and looking behind the television, where the audio recorder had been plugged in.

The FBI arrested him on October 9, and OpenAI terminated his contract.

Prosecutors cite potential national security risk

The court filing said Alfozan’s alleged actions could pose a “danger to the national security of the United States” because technology executives were meeting with government officials in the conference room on the day the device was believed to have been installed.

According to the filing, Alfozan was arrested three days before he was scheduled to travel with his wife and son on a one-way trip from San Francisco to Riyadh.

After his arrest, Alfozan’s wife told FBI agents that she and her son intended to “return permanently to Saudi Arabia” because her “U.S. visa expired.” She reportedly said her husband intended to do the same, according to court documents.

On October 10, the day after Alfozan’s arrest, his wife and son flew from San Francisco to Doha, Qatar. They traveled on one-way business-class tickets booked and paid for by Saudi military personnel.

“Ultimately, the defendant has little incentive to remain in the United States to see this case through,” prosecutors argued.

Federal case remains under investigation

The FBI investigation is ongoing.

Alfozan is scheduled to appear in federal court in San Francisco later Monday. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 (£188,000) fine.