This is a new development in a story we reported earlier: OpenAI says its own AI models identified the engineer behind the hidden recorder. Earlier in this story: FBI arrests Saudi OpenAI engineer over hidden recording device.
OpenAI said its AI tools identified Abdulrahman Alfozan, who was arrested Oct. 9, 2026 for allegedly placing a hidden recorder in a San Francisco executive conference room, after noting it had separated from three safety researchers over a policy‑violation inquiry.
Abdulrahman Alfozan is a 35‑year‑old Saudi national. He worked as an engineer at OpenAI since July 2025. Prosecutors say a chatbot linked to Alfozan’s spouse inquired about building, hiding, and retrieving a continual audio recorder. They note the requests came days before the recorder’s installation.
Abdulrahman Alfozan’s arrest on Oct. 9, 2026 occurred days after OpenAI’s newsroom account defended the firing of three safety researchers. OpenAI identifies Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak, and Mikita Balesni as safety researchers.
The departures of Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak, and Mikita Balesni occurred last week relative to the Oct. 9, 2026 announcement, placing them in early October 2026. OpenAI described its security program as built to defend against threats from insiders, cybercriminals, and nation states.
Should he be convicted, Alfozan could receive up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Federal officials treat the Alfozan case as a national security matter.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that Alfozan allegedly sought to record discussions about OpenAI’s ‘superintelligence technology.’ U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian described the case as a national security matter.
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