The Justice Department stated that Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former OpenAI engineer charged with planting a recording device in a San Francisco office, had a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia booked for October 12. Federal prosecutors used these travel plans to justify sealing the criminal complaint and arrest warrant against the 35-year-old Saudi national. Alfozan was arrested on October 9, days before the scheduled departure for himself, his wife, and another relative. Court documents argue that public disclosure of the case could have jeopardized his arrest by prompting him to flee the country.
OpenAI discovered the encrypted device on September 30, plugged into a USB port on the back of a television in a conference room designated for "highly confidential" discussions. The room was used for conversations involving proprietary research, product plans, and business opportunities. Federal prosecutors alleged that the device, concealed in toilet paper, had been installed two days prior to its discovery. Authorities traced the device to Alfozan, noting that security footage showed him near the conference room multiple times.
In addition to the physical evidence, authorities alleged that a chatbot associated with Alfozan's wife was used to field prompts about ways to install and hide audio recording devices. Alfozan was formally charged with using or attempting to use a device to intercept oral communications.
In an Arabic podcast released last month, Alfozan discussed a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the prince's 2016 visit to Silicon Valley. The New York Post reported that Alfozan said he had been contemplating a return to his native country. During the conversation, the prince advised young Saudis working in Silicon Valley to refine their skills at premier tech companies before bringing their expertise home. Alfozan reportedly told the podcast audience, "You learn from the source and then, God willing, bring that experience and knowledge back to the homeland." Fox News Digital has reached out to Alfozan's attorney for comment.