Former OpenAI Engineer Linked to Saudi Royalty Faces Espionage Charges

Federal prosecutors have unveiled accusations against Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former engineer at OpenAI. Alfozan allegedly installed a listening device in an OpenAI conference room while in contact with a member of the Saudi royal family. He was reportedly planning to relocate to Riyadh when he was apprehended.

Prosecutors claim Alfozan used artificial intelligence tools to develop sophisticated recording devices. These devices were allegedly intended for use in meeting rooms frequented by OpenAI executives, government officials, and business partners. Alfozan was earning $385,000 annually, with an equity grant valued at $2.2 million, since joining OpenAI in July 2025.

In a court filing spanning 11 pages, prosecutors pointed to evidence that suggested Alfozan aimed to place additional devices within OpenAI’s premises. They also revealed his communication via WhatsApp with an anonymous Saudi royal, who encouraged him to return to Saudi Arabia to participate in a national AI initiative.

Prosecutors allege Alfozan placed a listening device in a conference room’s USB port, modifying it to block data transfer while encrypting its content.

The communication between Alfozan and the royal included attempts to recruit him for the initiative, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s need for his expertise.

Before the device’s installation, Alfozan researched how to modify it using an AI chatbot account linked to his wife. His research included creating a continuous audio recorder, capturing audio, and encrypting stored data.

Prosecutors stated the meetings held in the conference room frequently discussed confidential technical, commercial, and strategic information. Allegations suggest that around the device’s installation, OpenAI executives conversed with government officials in the same space.

Investigators discovered Alfozan’s cellphone contained images of hidden recorders and electronic devices within other OpenAI meeting spaces.

The arrest date for Alfozan was October 9, three days prior to his planned departure for Riyadh with his family. His wife and child left a day later, with tickets purchased by a Saudi military official, according to prosecutors. Alfozan faced termination from OpenAI following his arrest.

At a recent detention hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex Tse denied a request for his release to home confinement. The government argued Alfozan’s resources and connections posed a flight risk. His trial is set for next month.