OpenAI has confirmed that a sophisticated recording device was discovered hidden inside one of its offices, leading to the arrest of an employee and a federal investigation.
The company said it used its own Artificial Intelligence (AI) models to analyse the device and trace its origins.
That analysis identified a specific employee who had planted it a few days earlier, prompting OpenAI to refer the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The employee has been terminated, and the FBI’s investigation is ongoing.
Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old Saudi national and engineer at OpenAI since July 2025, was arrested on 9 October 2026 and charged with using a device to intercept oral communications.
He appeared in federal court on 13 October.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
The US Department of Justice alleges Alfozan plugged an encrypted recording device, concealed within toilet paper, into a television’s Universal Serial Bus (USB) port in an executive conference room on 28 September 2026.
The room regularly hosted discussions involving confidential research, product plans, and government engagements.
Security personnel discovered the device during a sweep on 30 September 2026.
A Sophisticated Device
The device was built to evade detection, used advanced encryption, and could transfer data without being noticed.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the alleged goal was to capture sensitive communications about the company’s “super intelligence technology“.
Prosecutors also cited chatbot prompts linked to Alfozan’s account and that of his spouse, including inquiries about building continuous audio recorders, encrypting SD cards, and improving live listening capabilities.
A second identical recording device was found in a bag Alfozan left unattended at the headquarters.
OpenAI said it has “no indications” that the individual inappropriately accessed or exfiltrated model weights, source code, or customer data.
The company described the case as an example of how AI can help address sophisticated security threats from insider risks and nation states.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and Alfozan is presumed innocent unless convicted.
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