US judge orders Saudi engineer held in OpenAI case

On Monday, a US federal judge ordered a former Saudi-based OpenAI employee to remain in custody without bail due to concerns of him fleeing the country. Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, was arrested on October 9 and faces up to five years in prison for allegedly installing a recording device in an OpenAI office. The judge denied his lawyers' request for release, citing a significant risk of non-appearance.

Prosecutors argued for his detention, noting that Alfozan had previously communicated frequently with a member of the Saudi royal family.

Alfozan was fired from OpenAI in October 2025 and appeared in court for a detention hearing. He is currently accused of intercepting oral communications, though the charges do not explicitly state spying activities. The US attorney's office claims Alfozan maintained contacts with a Saudi royal family member, but the document does not allege any criminal intent.

However, US Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton suggested the case had national security implications last week. The investigation into Alfozan's activities is ongoing and could result in further serious charges.

The unnamed Saudi royal family member attempted to recruit Alfozan for an AI initiative in Saudi Arabia several times. In one WhatsApp exchange, the person wrote, "Saudi Arabia needs you more than the US." Alfozan responded with a "100," a common way to indicate agreement. Before his arrest, Alfozan purchased a one-way ticket to Riyadh for October 12, further supporting the argument that he was a flight risk.

Alfozan's lawyer, William Pernik, disputes this claim, stating that Alfozan had a US naturalization interview scheduled for November 6. Alfozan's wife and their baby left the United States on October 10, following his arrest. The United States and Saudi Arabia do not have an extradition treaty.