The FBI has arrested former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan over allegations that he planted a concealed recording device in an executive conference room at the artificial intelligence company. The US Department of Justice announced the arrest and charges on October 13, 2026. Alfozan, 35, is a Saudi national who joined OpenAI in July 2025.
Investigators said OpenAI discovered the device on September 30 in one of its San Francisco offices. It was connected to a USB port behind a television and concealed inside toilet paper. According to the FBI complaint, the device contained a microphone and could connect to a camera. Investigators later found a similar customized device in Alfozan’s personal bag.
OpenAI said its internal AI models helped identify the person responsible and trace the device’s origins. The company also reported evidence suggesting that the employee intended to place additional recording devices in sensitive office areas.
The company said, "At this time, we have no indications of this individual inappropriately accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code, or customer data. The employee was terminated."
FBI Director Kash Patel said the device was allegedly intended to capture sensitive discussions about the company’s superintelligence technology. According to the complaint, Alfozan also used an AI productivity agent to seek information about meeting-room calendars and capabilities over roughly a month, through September 16.
OpenAI referred the case to federal authorities. The FBI is continuing its investigation, and the Saudi embassy in the US had not immediately responded to a request for comment, Reuters reported.
Alfozan has been charged with using or attempting to use a device to intercept oral communications. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison, a USD 250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. His legal representation was not immediately clear.
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