Key facts
- FBI arrested OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan on foreign spy charges.
- Alfozan allegedly planted a USB recording device in a restricted executive conference room.
- The device was found by OpenAI on September 30, two days after it was likely planted.
- CCTV footage allegedly shows Alfozan attempting to retrieve the device on October 5.
- Alfozan allegedly used OpenAI's productivity agent to research meeting times and locations.
- A second Seeed XIAO ESP32-S3 Sense device was found in a lost and found bag.
The FBI has arrested Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old engineer from Saudi Arabia who was a legal resident in the U.S. and employed by OpenAI, on charges of espionage. Alfozan is suspected of planting a hidden recording device in a restricted executive conference room at OpenAI, where sensitive information including technical progress, government engagements, and commercial partnerships were discussed.
According to an affidavit submitted by FBI special agent Lydia Liang, the device, a Chinese-made Seeed XIAO ESP32-S3 Sense, was found by OpenAI on September 30, two days after it was likely planted on September 28. The device was allegedly wrapped in toilet paper and plugged into the back of a conference room television. OpenAI determined the device's contents were encrypted.
CCTV footage allegedly captured Alfozan attempting to retrieve the recording device on October 5. The FBI also reviewed Alfozan's queries to an OpenAI productivity agent, which suggested he was seeking information on meeting schedules. Additionally, logs from an AI chatbot account associated with Alfozan's spouse showed prompts referencing the device's MAC address and inquiries about continuous recording, speech-triggered recording, and encrypting an SD card.
On the same day Alfozan was seen near the conference room TV, he reported a bag missing from OpenAI's lost and found. Security personnel found a second Seeed device inside the unattended bag. Alfozan later returned to inquire about the missing bag but did not mention the second device.
If convicted of unlawful recordings, Alfozan faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that safeguarding national security and economic strength by policing efforts to spy on frontier labs like OpenAI is a high counterintelligence priority. US Attorney Craig Missakian emphasized the office's commitment to protecting American innovation.