Ex-OpenAI Worker Accused of Planting Device Had Saudi Support, Prosecutors Say
A Saudi national charged in connection with a recording device found at OpenAI allegedly had 'considerable support' from the Saudi government, according to a court filing.
Prosecutors allege that Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former employee of the artificial intelligence firm OpenAI, maintained frequent communication with a member of the Saudi royal family and received substantial backing from the Saudi government.
These claims were detailed in a court filing in California, which argues that Alfozan, a 35-year-old engineer, should be detained pending trial due to a flight risk. The filing states that a member of the Saudi military paid for a one-way flight for Alfozan's wife and son to Saudi Arabia shortly after his arrest.
OpenAI discovered an audio recording device plugged into the back of a television in a conference room on September 30. The device was concealed with toilet paper. Security footage reportedly showed Alfozan entering the room and appearing to adjust the area behind the television on October 5.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Alfozan on October 9, and his contract with OpenAI was subsequently terminated. Prosecutors contend that Alfozan's alleged actions could endanger U.S. national security, as executives from OpenAI held meetings with government officials in the conference room during the period the device is believed to have been installed.
The court document further revealed that Alfozan was scheduled to depart on a one-way flight from San Francisco to Riyadh with his wife and son three days after his arrest. His wife informed FBI agents that her U.S. visa was expiring, prompting her and their son to permanently relocate to Saudi Arabia, with Alfozan intending to join them.
On October 10, the day following Alfozan's arrest, his wife and son traveled from San Francisco to Doha, Qatar, on business-class tickets booked and paid for by a Saudi military official. "Ultimately, the defendant has little incentive to remain in the United States to see this case through," the prosecutors argued in their filing.
The FBI's investigation into the matter is ongoing. Alfozan is slated to appear in federal court in San Francisco. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.