Saudi man charged with planting ‘sophisticated’ recording device in OpenAI office

A Saudi engineer employed by AI company OpenAI has been charged with installing a covert recording device in the company's San Francisco office, according to federal prosecutors. Abdulrahman Alfozan, who had been working at OpenAI since July 2025, was accused of concealing the device inside an executive conference room to secretly record sensitive conversations, with the alleged intent of learning about the company's AI technologies.

OpenAI discovered the "sophisticated recording device," hidden within a USB port of a TV, on September 30. The FBI was alerted after OpenAI informed them of the unauthorized device. The company reported that their AI models aided in identifying the source of the device and the individual responsible for its placement.

The secret recording device was wrapped in toilet paper, and prosecutors claim it was inserted into the office building on September 30, two days after it was installed. OpenAI utilized AI models to analyze the device, determining its origin and the specific engineering employee who had placed it there.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the purpose of the device was to record information about the company's AI product. The employee was subsequently terminated upon discovery of the device.

Alfozan is also accused of using OpenAI's chatbot platform to research sensitive locations within the company and methods to covertly install audio equipment. He reportedly searched for instructions on "building, customizing, installing, audio recording, testing, obfuscating, and remote accessing" devices, among other topics.

On October 5, prosecutors claim Alfozan returned to the office to inspect the device. CCTV footage helped link him to the scene. That same day, a security team found another recording device similar to the one discovered in the conference room in a bag left unattended in another part of the building. The bag contained Alfozan's wallet, ID, and the additional recording device.

Alfozan appeared in court on October 6, though it remains unclear if he has legal representation. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.