Prosecutors Allege Ex-OpenAI Engineer Planted Recorder

Federal prosecutors allege former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan installed an encrypted recording device in an executive conference room and had frequent contact with an unidentified Saudi royal who urged him to join a Saudi artificial intelligence initiative. The allegations appear in a court filing seeking to keep Alfozan in custody while his case proceeds. Prosecutors say the device was installed in late September 2026 and remained in the room for several days. They allege Alfozan concealed it behind a television and modified it to prevent data transfer to the television, while encrypting material stored on the device. The room was used for meetings involving OpenAI executives, government officials and business partners, according to the filing. Investigators also found evidence that prosecutors say may indicate plans for additional surveillance. They cite photographs of another concealed recorder and electronic equipment in other OpenAI meeting rooms, as well as a second device found in a bag left in a printer room. Prosecutors say Alfozan had researched recording equipment and locations inside the company. The filing does not establish what, if anything, the devices...