SAN FRANCISCO: US prosecutors have charged former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, with using or attempting to use a hidden device to intercept spoken communications at the company’s offices.
Alfozan, a Saudi national, was arrested on October 9; his initial federal court appearance was on Tuesday, and he remains in custody.
OpenAI said it had fired the employee and referred the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The company is cooperating with the continuing investigation.
It reported no indications that Alfozan improperly accessed or extracted model weights, source code or customer data.
According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), OpenAI personnel discovered an audio recorder in an executive conference room around September 30 plugged into a television’s Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and concealed in toilet paper.
Investigators described its contents as encrypted. OpenAI determined that someone had installed it around September 28.
Prosecutors allege that the room hosted highly confidential discussions about research, product plans and commercial strategy. They maintain that Alfozan had no authority to enter the room or attend its meetings.
According to the complaint, surveillance footage placed him near the room on several dates before staff found the device. It further alleges that he entered on October 5 and appeared to look behind the television.
Around that date, OpenAI security personnel found an unattended bag in another room. Prosecutors allege that it contained Alfozan’s wallet, identification and a second recording device similar to the first. Alfozan had worked as an engineer at OpenAI since July 2025.
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The complaint describes earlier inquiries he made through a productivity tool about office locations, meeting rooms and calendars. Those inquiries included locations used by executives and external partners.
FBI Director Kash Patel alleged that the recorder’s purpose was to capture sensitive discussions about the company’s technology.
TechCrunch could not immediately reach Alfozan or his attorney for comment. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge remains an allegation, as the detention hearing is scheduled for October 19 before US Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse.
