FBI arrests former OpenAI engineer accused of bugging executive conference room
Investigators say a hidden recorder was found behind a TV in an OpenAI executive meeting room in San Francisco. Former engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan was arrested by the FBI, and his lawyer calls the allegations out of character.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
This story is no longer being updated. It reflects reporting up to .
What happened
OpenAI staff found a recording device hidden behind a television in an executive meeting room at the company's San Francisco office, plugged into a USB port. The FBI arrested Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former OpenAI engineer, who is accused of planting it. Prosecutors have asked a judge to keep case details sealed, and his lawyer said the allegations are wholly out of character.
Timeline
- Sept. 30: OpenAI employees find the recording device plugged into a USB port behind a television in an executive conference room.
- Oct 14, 3:47 PM ET: The FBI arrests Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former OpenAI engineer accused of planting the device in the office.
- Oct 14, 6:00 PM ET: Prosecutors ask a judge to keep details of the case under seal, fearing Alfozan would flee the country.
- Oct 14, 10:54 PM ET: His lawyer says the allegations are out of character and that a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia for him, his wife and child was pre-booked.
Coverage
- OpenAI Suspect Allegedly Had One-Way Ticket Home (newser.com)
- Ex-OpenAI engineer charged with planting recording device had one-way flight booked to Saudi Arabia, DOJ says (Fox News)
- OpenAI engineer arrested by FBI for allegedly bugging conference room had booked one-way flight to Saudi Arabia (New York Post)
- OpenAI bugging suspect had booked a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia before his arrest (qz.com)
- OpenAI trains staff to spot espionage in routine encounters
- OpenAI engineer charged over hidden recording in San Francisco office, seeks bail
- OpenAI pledges not to use disputed Apple trade secrets amid lawsuit
- OpenAI accuses former employee of taking files to Apple
- Judge grants Apple early evidence access in OpenAI trade secret case
More from Technology & AI
- Eight states sue OpenAI, alleging misleading AI safety claims
- OpenAI announces solution to Navier-Stokes math problem
- Datadog bets AI agents can handle testing of AI-written code
- Anthropic and OpenAI sketch wealth-sharing plans before IPOs
- Mamdani administration proposes AI customer service rules
- Florida engineers study how AI behaves in high-risk situations