Former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan has been denied bail while awaiting trial on charges of using an eavesdropping device to record internal meetings.
Federal investigators uncovered hardware components and evidence linking the engineer to clandestine recording efforts within the company's executive facilities.
The case underscores significant physical security risks, including the introduction of unauthorized electronic monitoring devices into sensitive corporate environments.
Ties with Saudi Arabia
According to prosecutors, Saudi Arabia offered to financially cover the bail for his release. Judge Alex Che described this financial support from a foreign state as problematic. In addition, court documents reveal communications between Alfozan and a member of the Saudi royal family during 2025 and 2026. It is noted that his wife and child returned to Saudi Arabia a few days after his arrest.
The discovery of the recording device
In late September, OpenAI discovered a hidden recording device behind a television in a meeting room used by company executives. The company fired Alfozan that month, shortly before he was arrested by the FBI. Authorities also found a second recording device in a bag left in his office.
During the search of his home, various components for recording devices were found, while his mobile phone contained photos of other rooms and screens of OpenAI. In addition, authorities found conversations with an artificial intelligence program, in which he sought instructions for setting up such devices. The defense argued that the components found were intended for personal projects, such as a smart cat toilet.
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What is the case?
Alfozan is charged with using a wiretap, a charge that carries a prison sentence of up to five years. The data on the hidden device was encrypted, so it is not yet clear whether it was able to record any conversations. The defendant's next court appearance is set for November 6.
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