Links to Saudi royal family, plans to leave US: What filings reveal against ex-OpenAI engineer who planted device | Today’s news

Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former engineer at artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI accused of planting a “sophisticated recording device” in an executive conference room, was in contact with a member of the Saudi royal family and was planning to leave the US for Riyadh when authorities arrested him, federal prosecutors said in a court memo on Sunday (18 May).

Alfozan was arrested on October 9 and is accused of using AI tools to develop encrypted recording devices and locate meeting rooms used by OpenAI executives, government officials and business partners, CBS News reports.

What did the court filing reveal?

In the 11-page filing, prosecutors said investigators found evidence suggesting Alfozan may have planned to install additional devices at the AI ​​firm’s offices. The filing also revealed his WhatsApp exchanges with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family, who repeatedly urged him to return to the kingdom and participate in an AI initiative there.

Prosecutors further alleged that between 2025 and 2026, the former OpenAI engineer “frequently communicated via WhatsApp with a member of the Saudi royal family, including as late as October 5, 2026.” A member of the royal family reportedly told Alfozan, “Saudi Arabia needs you more than (sic) the US!”, as part of a campaign to recruit him. While Alfozan agreed, he added that he would not leave until his shares were allocated.

Alfozan was arrested on October 9, three days before he was due to leave the US with his wife and young son on a one-way flight to Riyadh. The filing also revealed that his wife and three-month-old son left the country on October 10 on business class tickets purchased by a Saudi military official. Before his arrest, he was supposed to go on a two-month parental leave in October.

According to a Bloomberg report, Magistrate Alex G. Tse denied Alfozan’s bail request after prosecutors argued that his alleged ties to the Saudi royal family and his recent termination from an AI firm made him a serious flight risk while he awaited trial.

In court filings, the U.S. government argued that Alfozan posed a “threat to the national security of the United States” because of the nature of the allegations against him and his connections to the Saudi government.

What is it against Abdulrahman Alfozan?

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Alfozan, a green card holder, was arrested earlier this month after OpenAI employees found an audio recording device located behind a television in an executive conference room. On Sept. 28, he installed “a covert audio recording device into a USB port on the back of a television in an OpenAI conference room, where the device remained for at least several days,” investigators alleged.

According to the Justice Department, Alfozan did not have authorization to enter the conference room where investigators found the device. Surveillance footage also showed him near the conference room several times before the “recording device” was found. On October 5, he allegedly entered the room to retrieve her.

Alfozan, who has been a permanent resident of the US since 2020 and will soon become a naturalized citizen, will remain in custody and return to court next month.