**Abdulrahman Alfozan**, a 35-year-old Saudi engineer employed by **OpenAI** since July 2025, was arrested on October 9. He faces charges of illegally intercepting oral communications after allegedly planting a surreptitious audio recording device within **OpenAI's** San Francisco offices. ### Discovery of the Device The **U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)** confirmed that **OpenAI** security personnel discovered the recording device on September 30. It was found plugged into a USB port behind a television in an executive conference room. The device, reportedly concealed in toilet paper and installed around September 28, contained encrypted data. According to the **DOJ** press release, "On or about Sept. 30, **OpenAI** personnel discovered a surreptitious audio recording device (Recording Device 1) inserted into a USB port on the back of a television in an executive conference room inside one of their buildings in San Francisco."  ### Sensitive Information at Risk The conference room in question is regularly used for meetings involving highly confidential information. This includes **OpenAI's** proprietary research, product plans, technical capabilities, business relationships, and government engagements. Security camera footage allegedly showed **Alfozan** near the conference room on multiple occasions, despite not being authorized to attend meetings held there. ### AI Models Used in the Scheme Further investigation revealed that **Alfozan** allegedly used a productivity tool to search for information about **OpenAI's** offices, meeting rooms, executive locations, and meeting schedules. The complaint also states that a chatbot account associated with **Alfozan's** spouse was used to ask questions about building and concealing recording devices. These inquiries reportedly included topics such as creating a continuous audio recorder, modifying Wi-Fi connectivity, improving live listening capabilities, and encrypting an SD card. "The same chatbot account also submitted prompts specifically related to Recording Device 1, including its custom header and unique MAC address, between Sept. 27 and Sept. 28," the **DOJ** alleges. ### Second Device and Termination On October 5, surveillance footage allegedly captured **Alfozan** returning to the conference room and inspecting the area behind the television where the device had been installed.  On the same day, **OpenAI** security employees discovered a second, similar recording device inside a bag **Alfozan** had left unattended in another room. **OpenAI** stated on X that it utilized its own AI models to investigate the suspicious device and help identify the employee responsible. The company confirmed it terminated the employee and referred the incident to the **FBI**. "At this time, we have no indications of this individual inappropriately accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code, or customer data," **OpenAI** added. If convicted, **Alfozan** faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.