The FBI has arrested an OpenAI engineer for allegedly hiding an audio recording device inside the company’s executive conference room. Federal prosecutors unsealed the complaint on October 13, and the case now raises serious questions about insider threats at America’s leading AI firm.
Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi national, joined OpenAI’s product team in July 2025. Prosecutors say he planted the device around September 28 by plugging it into a USB port behind a television in the conference room. He then wrapped it in toilet paper to conceal it. The device, a Seeed Xiao ESP32-S3 Sense board, costs roughly $14 online but featured advanced encryption and audio monitoring capabilities, according to OpenAI.
OpenAI’s security team discovered the recorder on September 30 during a routine sweep. The company then used its own AI models to trace the device back to Alfozan. On October 5, security staff also found a second recording device in a bag he left in another office building. CCTV footage from the same day captured him checking behind the television where the first device sat.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the scheme targeted “sensitive communications about the company’s super intelligence technology.” However, prosecutors have not yet alleged any foreign government link or specific buyer for the recordings. As a result, the full motive remains unclear.
Before planting the device, Alfozan allegedly used a chatbot to research how to build a continuous audio recorder, encrypt an SD card, customize Wi-Fi connectivity, and improve remote listening. He also used an internal productivity tool to search for executive meeting locations and room calendars. Notably, prosecutors say he had no authorization to access that conference room.
Alfozan faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. OpenAI fired him on October 9, the same day the FBI arrested him. The company says it has “no indications” that source code, model weights, or customer data were accessed or taken during the incident.
His next court appearance is scheduled for October 19 before Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse in San Francisco.
