Ex-OpenAI worker accused of planting device had Saudi support, says court filing

A Saudi national, Abdulrahman Alfozan, has been accused of secretly planting a recording device inside one of OpenAI's meeting rooms, according to a court filing in California. The 35-year-old engineer was charged with having "considerable support" from the Saudi government, as reported by US prosecutors. Alfozan, who worked for OpenAI for approximately a year, was deemed a flight risk and denied bail pending trial.

The Saudi government did not immediately respond to inquiries from the BBC. OpenAI discovered the audio recorder, concealed behind a TV and covered with toilet paper, on September 30. A camera inside the room led to Alfozan being identified on October 5 as he entered the space and looked behind the television. He was apprehended by the FBI on October 9.

The court filing claimed that Alfozan's alleged actions could pose a danger to U.S. national security, as executives from OpenAI met with government officials during the period when the device was allegedly installed. His arrest came three days before he was set to fly from San Francisco to Riyadh on a single trip with his wife and son.

Following his arrest, the court filing states that Alfozan's wife informed FBI agents that her U.S. visa was expiring, and she and her son were "permanently moving back to Saudi Arabia," with her husband planning to do the same. On October 10, the day after Alfozan's arrest, his wife and son departed from San Francisco for Doha, Qatar, on a one-way business class ticket booked and paid for by a Saudi military official.

Judge Alex Tse denied Alfozan's request for release on bail on Monday, citing a significant risk of non-appearance. The FBI investigation is ongoing, and if convicted, Alfozan faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.