OpenAI says it found a sophisticated recording device hidden inside one of its offices. Per the company’s update, an employee has since been arrested in connection with it. The Sam Altman-led company claimed that it used its own advanced AI models to analyze the device and work out where it came from. The AI analysis pointed to a specific employee, who OpenAI says planted the device a few days earlier. OpenAI referred the matter to the FBI, and agents and prosecutors moved quickly to make the arrest. The employee has been terminated.
Breaking news: A Saudi national working for OpenAI has been arrested for allegedly planting a recording device in the company’s offices, after the ChatGPT maker reported them to the FBI. https://t.co/RFqajRCBhK pic.twitter.com/wQerso8r76
OpenAI Statement #
In its statement shared on X/Twitter, the company said it has no indications the individual inappropriately accessed or exfiltrated model weights, source code, or customer data. OpenAI stated that protecting its technology, data, and people is a matter of national importance. Its security program, OpenAI said, is designed for threats ranging from insiders to cybercriminals to nation states. The company described this case as an example of AI helping to counter such threats.
We discovered a sophisticated recording device that was hidden inside one of our offices. 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. We referred the matter to the FBI, and we’re grateful to the agents and prosecutors who moved quickly to make an arrest. The FBI’s investigation is ongoing, and we will continue to support their work.
— OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) October 13, 2026
FBI Director Kash Patel Statement #
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel said a man was arrested who allegedly concealed the recording device inside his employer’s executive conference room. According to Patel, the purpose of the task was to secretly capture sensitive communications about the company’s superintelligence technology. Patel quipped, sharing a tweet by a Fox News correspondent, Bill Melugin, who claimed that the accused is a Saudi national and the only staff from the region. Per Melugin, the man was caught by OpenAI CCTV. He also cited OpenAI’s complaint as the following:
“Alfozan had been employed as an engineer by the company identified as “Company 1” since July 2025. On or about Sept. 30, Company 1 personnel discovered a surreptitious audio recording device (Recording Device 1) inserted into a USB port on the back of a television in an executive conference room inside one of Company 1’s buildings in San Francisco. Company 1 determined that the device, which had been concealed in toilet paper, was installed on or about Sept. 28 and that its contents were encrypted.”
FBI and partners arrested this individual after he allegedly concealed a recording device inside his employer's executive conference room to secretly capture sensitive communications about the company’s super intelligence tech - Thank you to @ODNIgov Jay Clayton @AGToddBlanche… https://t.co/lj0tSViti5
October 13, 2026 BREAKING: A Saudi national/OpenAI employee has been arrested by the FBI after he was allegedly caught placing an eavesdropping/audio recording device inside of OpenAI’s executive conference room in San Francisco, CA. Feds say Abdulrahman Alfozan made his first appearance in… pic.twitter.com/HDCk93WJtd
October 13, 2026 See Also: Apple Claims Ex-Employee Stole Trade Secrets; OpenAI Says Apple Has No Proof
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