OpenAI engineer arrested for allegedly planting spy device in secret meeting room

The FBI has arrested Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old Saudi-born US legal resident, for allegedly planting a recording device in a restricted OpenAI conference room. The device, wrapped in toilet paper and plugged into a television, was discovered on September 30, 2026, two days after it was reportedly planted on September 28. OpenAI confirmed the device’s contents were encrypted, raising concerns about potential trade secret leaks. The FBI alleges Alfozan, who worked at OpenAI for over a year, sought to spy on the company and jeopardize national security. CCTV footage from October 5 allegedly shows him attempting to retrieve the device. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in securing sensitive information, as only those with special clearance are permitted access to the room. The FBI’s press release, issued on Tuesday, cited chatbot logs and surveillance footage as key evidence in the case.