OpenAI engineer charged with attempting to wiretap office | Latest Tech News
A Saudi engineer at artificial intelligence giant OpenAI was arrested and charged with attempting to bug confidential conferences by planting secret recording devices in govt convention rooms, federal prosecutors said.
Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, who is from Saudi Arabia, is in federal custody after his arrest Friday.
OpenAI found a “surreptitious audio recording device” stuffed into a USB port on the back of a TV in a convention room — wrapped in toilet paper in an attempt to conceal the machine, according to the criticism.
Abdulrahman Alfozan, an worker of OpenAI, is in federal custody after his arrest Friday. Instagram/alfozan
A photograph in the court doc reveals an oddly positioned object on the back of a TV.
Another photograph reveals the alleged machine with the branding of Seeed Studio, a company that seems to offer AI recording merchandise.
OpenAI found a “surreptitious audio recording device” stuffed into a USB port on the back of a TV in a convention room — wrapped in toilet paper in an attempt to conceal the machine.
Meetings in that convention room apparently concerned high-level discussions of the company’s confidential plans, such as proprietary research, OpenAI’s technical capabilities, its authorities relationships and more.
Footage confirmed Alfozan showing close to the convention room a number of instances, even though he had no authority to access the room or take part in those conferences, the criticism said.
He has labored for the San Francisco-based AI company since July 2025, the Department of Justice said.
“Any attempt to illicitly obtain protected information from U.S. super intelligence and technology companies threatens both American innovation and the national security interests those advancements support,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble of the FBI San Francisco Field Office.
Meetings in that convention room apparently concerned high-level discussions of the company’s confidential plans. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Alfozan also used chatbots to plot the alleged recording efforts, asking about OpenAI’s building addresses, assembly room capacities and calendars, authorities said.
He even requested data about the places of “leadership and exec,” per the criticism.
Another chatbot account related with his spouse allegedly included queries on methods to set up and cover audio recording devices.
On Oct. 5, a photograph allegedly captured Alfozan getting into the convention room to get a sneak peek at the recording machine. Around that same time, OpenAI security staff discovered a related recording machine in Alfozan’s unattended bag, the DOJ said.
On Oct. 5, a photograph allegedly captured Alfozan getting into the convention room to get a sneak peek at the recording machine.
Alfozan faces a most sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 advantageous, adopted by three years of supervised release, if convicted.
The case is of explicit significance amid an AI arms race between the US, China and other nations.
America, home to Silicon Valley, is attempting to keep its world-leading technology away from the palms of adversaries.
Alfozan faces a most sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 advantageous, adopted by three years of supervised release, if convicted. X/@alfozan
“Protecting American Super Intelligence innovation is essential to safeguarding our nation’s economic strength and national security, and the FBI views that mission as one of our highest counterintelligence priorities,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a assertion.
An OpenAI spokesperson told the California Post that there was no indications of Alfozan inappropriately accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code or buyer data. He was subsequently fired.
“We take protecting our technology, data, and people seriously, and as a matter of national importance. Our security program is designed to protect against a wide range of threat actors, from insider risks to cybercriminals to nation states, and this case is an example of how AI can help address these sophisticated security threats,” OpenAI said.
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