US judge orders Saudi engineer held in OpenAI case

In a federal court in San Francisco, a judge has ruled that Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old former OpenAI employee, must remain in custody without bail. The decision was made due to concerns that Alfozan may flee the country, given his connections to the Saudi royal family and the potential flight risk. US District Judge Alex Tse agreed that there was a significant risk Alfozan would not appear in court as required, rejecting his attorneys' request for release.

The charges against Alfozan include intercepting oral communications, with a maximum sentence of five years in prison. US authorities allege that Alfozan, who had worked at OpenAI since 2025, had frequent communication with a member of the Saudi royal family. While no spying activities were explicitly mentioned in the complaint, US Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton hinted at potential national security implications.

The US attorney's office stated that the case has broader national security concerns. Alfozan's lawyers argued that he was not a flight risk, citing his efforts to become a US citizen and willingness to put up a $1 million bail bond. However, prosecutors countered that he was more likely to return to Saudi Arabia, where he could potentially benefit Saudi interests.

The case has gained attention due to the intense global competition in artificial intelligence and the involvement of Saudi Arabia's state-backed AI firm, Humain, in partnerships with American AI companies.