Saudi man charged with planting 'sophisticated' recording device in OpenAI office
Prosecutors say the device, wrapped in toilet paper, was found inserted in a USB port on the back of a TV in an executive conference room.
A Saudi engineer, Abdulrahman Alfozan, has been charged federally with planting a recording device in an OpenAI office in San Francisco. OpenAI discovered the sophisticated device wrapped in toilet paper hidden in a USB port on a TV in an executive conference room. FBI Director Kash Patel stated the device was intended to secretly capture sensitive communications about OpenAI's AI product.
Alfozan, who worked at OpenAI since July 2025, allegedly used ChatGPT to research how to secretly place the audio equipment. He also is accused of searching how to build and customize recording devices. Alfozan returned to the office a few days later to inspect the device. OpenAI has fired the employee and the suspect is facing up to five years in prison if convicted.
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