OpenAI fires employee after hidden recording device found in office
In Short
OpenAI says it found no evidence of stolen AI models, source code or customer data as the FBI investigates the alleged recording attempt.
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OpenAI fires employee after hidden recording device found in office
OpenAI has terminated an employee after discovering a concealed recording device inside one of its San Francisco offices. The company said it referred the case to the FBI and is cooperating with the federal investigation.
According to a report by Fortune, federal authorities arrested 35-year-old Saudi national Abdulrahman Alfozan, identified as an OpenAI engineering lead. Investigators allege that Alfozan secretly installed the recording equipment inside a conference room used for discussions involving confidential company matters.
The device was discovered on September 30 by OpenAI's technical surveillance countermeasures team. The FBI said it had been connected to a USB port behind a television and partially concealed using toilet paper. Investigators described it as an advanced device capable of recording audio, encrypting information and transferring data.
OpenAI says FBI investigation is ongoing
OpenAI said in a statement posted on X that its own AI models helped investigators examine the device and trace it to an employee who allegedly planted it several days before it was discovered.
"We discovered a sophisticated recording device that was hidden inside one of our offices," the company said.
"We used our models to understand the device and where it had come from, identifying that a specific employee had planted it a few days earlier."
OpenAI said it then contacted federal authorities.
We referred the matter to the FBI. We are grateful, to the agents and prosecutors who acted quickly to make an arrest. The FBIs investigation is still ongoing. We will keep supporting their efforts.
The company also said it has not found any evidence that sensitive information was accessed or taken.
“At this time we have no indications of this individual accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code or customer data " OpenAI said, confirming the employee’s termination.
FBI says confidential AI discussions were targeted
Federal investigators allege that the conference room was regularly used for conversations about proprietary research, upcoming products, business opportunities and strategic decisions. The FBI believes the recording device was intended to capture discussions related to OpenAI's advanced AI work.
FBI Director Kash Patel called the matter a national-security concern.
"According to the complaint unsealed today, Abdulrahman Alfozan allegedly concealed a covert recording device inside his employer's executive conference room to secretly capture sensitive communications about the company's super intelligence technology," Patel said.
He added that protecting American artificial intelligence innovation remains a key counterintelligence priority for the bureau.
Employee faces up to five years in prison
Alfozan was arrested on October 9. Charged with using or attempting to use an electronic device to intercept oral communications. If found guilty he could face a prison sentence of, up to five years.
The authorities say that OpenAI worked with the FBI after finding the device and stopped the employee from accessing its systems while evidence was being gathered. Investigators reportedly used CCTV footage and other evidence to link him to the device.
The investigation has so far found no evidence that confidential information was leaked. It remains unclear what Alfozan allegedly intended to do with the recordings.
“At this time, we have no indications of this individual inappropriately accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code, or customer data,” OpenAI said on X.
The company added that it takes protecting its technology, data and people seriously “as a matter of national importance.” The FBI’s investigation is ongoing.
OpenAI said the incident also demonstrated how its AI models could assist in investigating sophisticated security threats, including identifying the source of a device designed to avoid detection.
