Saudi national arrested at OpenAI over secret recording device
OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan was arrested after a recording device was found in an executive conference room.
A secret recording device wrapped in toilet paper was found plugged behind a TV in one of OpenAI's San Francisco buildings, triggering an FBI investigation into espionage at one of the world's leading AI companies.
The device was discovered in a conference room where only executives and their assistants could book, and was traced to engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi national hired in July 2025. OpenAI security staff placed a camera in the room and recorded Alfozan checking behind the TV.
A second device was found in a printer room. Court documents say his wife's AI chatbot account asked how to build a continuous audio recorder, add Wi-Fi connectivity, encrypt its memory card and hide its activity.
Alfozan and family members had booked one-way tickets to Saudi Arabia. US intelligence officials say the case shows the AI race is a national security priority, with Silicon Valley facing constant espionage threats.
- Abdulrahman Alfozan
- Engineer
- July 2025
- Hired
- 2020
- Permanent residency
Why it mattersAdvanced AI systems and their underlying technology are closely guarded US secrets worth stealing, making leading AI labs targets for foreign intelligence operations.
AustraliaNo direct Australian involvement yet, but Australian technology workers in Silicon Valley face similar security scrutiny, and Australian AI development may follow US precedent for oversight.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
