FBI probes OpenAI engineer for Saudi ties in espionage case

The FBI is determining if Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former OpenAI engineer, should face economic espionage charges related to his ties to Saudi Arabia.

Investigators are reviewing whether Alfozan secured confidential data to provide to the Saudi government, even if he was not formally recruited to do so. A law enforcement official told the Wall Street Journal that authorities are also weighing trade secret theft counts. However, the probe may not lead to additional prosecution beyond the current indictment.

Alfozan, 35, is a Saudi national and US permanent resident. He allegedly hid a circuit board and microphone behind a television in a conference room used by OpenAI executives. He currently faces a federal charge of unlawfully intercepting communications, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. His next court date is set for November 6.

Prosecutors stated that Alfozan sent frequent WhatsApp messages to an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family during 2025 and 2026. The royal figure reportedly tried to recruit him for a Saudi AI initiative, writing, “Saudi needs you more then [sic] the US!” Alfozan answered, “100,” but said he would stay at OpenAI until his stock vested. The last known message exchange happened on October 5. Alfozan allegedly returned to the conference room that day to retrieve the device, which OpenAI security had already found and removed.

Alfozan bought one-way tickets to Saudi Arabia via Istanbul for himself, his wife, and their infant son. He was arrested three days before the scheduled trip. Prosecutors noted that his wife and son later flew to Qatar on business-class tickets bought by a Saudi military official. Defense lawyers identified the official as the wife’s brother-in-law and stated that no military money was spent. They also noted that Alfozan often booked one-way flights.

During an October 19 hearing, US Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse questioned a letter from the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles offering to cover Alfozan’s full bail bond. “Even if I set it at $10 million?” the judge asked. “I find that problematic. Seems like a blank check. ‘We’re gonna pay whatever the court wants to make sure he gets out.’ ” Alfozan was denied bail because the judge found a high flight risk. His attorney, William Pernik, said the defense would contest the charges in court. OpenAI is currently reviewing the data the device may have captured to determine if the incident involved state-sponsored intelligence gathering.

OpenAI security personnel notified the FBI after finding the hidden equipment. The company is evaluating whether the recording constituted corporate espionage or a state-sponsored effort.