Arrested OpenAI Employee Was Asked To Join Saudi Arabia's AI Effort, US Alleges

(DOJ)

Federal prosecutors say that the former OpenAI employee accused of placing a hidden recording device to spy on the company's executives has "considerable support" from the Saudi Arabian government.

"Throughout 2025 and 2026, the defendant was in frequent communication via WhatsApp with a member of the Saudi Royal Family, including as recently as October 5, 2026," US prosecutors said in a court document filed on Sunday.

Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old Saudi citizen and former engineering lead at OpenAI, was arrested earlier this month. He is accused of trying to steal company secrets for another party. US prosecutors are now presenting more evidence about why he may have committed the alleged crime and why he might flee the country if released from custody.

The evidence includes WhatsApp messages between Alfozan and an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family. Prosecutors say the royal family member wanted him to join a new AI project being launched in Saudi Arabia. "In May 2026, the individual told the defendant, ‘Saudi needs you more then [sic] the US!’ to which the defendant responded ‘100,’ indicating he agreed," prosecutors said. The royal family member tried several times to recruit Alfozan and asked when he planned to leave OpenAI. At the time, Alfozan said he would not leave until his company stock had fully vested, meaning he had earned the right to keep it.

The 11-page court document also says that Alfozan's wife and son left the United States on October 11, two days after his arrest. They had originally planned to leave on October 12, with their tickets paid for by the Saudi government. However, prosecutors say, that flight was canceled after a member of the Saudi military booked and paid for another one-way flight for Alfozan's wife and son on October 10, 2026. The new tickets were for business-class travel to Doha, Qatar.

Prosecutors added that Alfozan's wife told FBI agents who interviewed her that her US visa was about to expire and that she and her son were moving back to Saudi Arabia permanently. She also said that her husband eventually planned to do the same, even though Alfozan had applied to become a US citizen.

Federal prosecutors presented this evidence after Alfozan's lawyers asked on Friday for him to be released from custody while he awaits trial. Alfozan agreed to wear a GPS ankle monitor that tracks his location and to hand over all his passports.

"Mr. Alfozan was made aware of OpenAI finding the (audio recording) device per its own filings and OpenAI's public statements, approximately eight to ten days before he was arrested," his lawyers said. "If his intention was to flee, he would have done so at that time."

Federal prosecutors disagreed and told the judge: "The defendant presents a serious risk of flight. The Court should detain him pending trial to assure his appearance." The court document also says that investigators searched Alfozan's home and found "several electronic components similar" to the custom audio recording device placed in an OpenAI conference room where executives held private meetings about sensitive matters.

"The defendant's iPhone contained photographs, dated between September 22–28, 2026, depicting, among other things, at least one additional concealed recording device as well as what appear to be the input/output panels on televisions and other electronic devices in various locations in OpenAI buildings," the court document adds.