The Federal Bureau of Investigation is considering adding an economic espionage charge against Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former engineer at OpenAI who is currently facing wiretapping allegations, according to a law enforcement official. Alfozan is accused of secretly installing a surveillance device in a restricted conference room used mainly by company executives.
The investigation is exploring whether Alfozan illicitly obtained proprietary information from OpenAI to provide to the Saudi government, even if he was not officially recruited for that purpose, the official said. Alfozan’s legal counsel stated that they have not been informed of any potential additional charges and emphasized that Alfozan intends to contest the existing allegations in court.
Alfozan, 35, a Saudi national and U.S. legal permanent resident, joined OpenAI in 2025 after studying computer science at MIT and working at other tech companies including Meta. He was denied bail in a hearing on October 19, with the presiding judge citing a significant risk of flight.
Authorities allege that Alfozan concealed a small microphone and circuit board wrapped in toilet paper behind a conference room television. He faces charges of violating federal wiretapping laws, which carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The next court hearing is scheduled for November 6.
Both OpenAI and the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the matter. The government continues to investigate whether further offenses such as trade secret theft have occurred, but it is unclear if additional charges will be filed.
Alfozan’s arrest has heightened concerns about espionage activity targeting Silicon Valley’s advanced technology firms. The FBI’s probe into economic espionage does not necessarily imply that Alfozan was acting on behalf of the Saudi government. Instead, it may focus on allegations that he intended to sell stolen information to Saudi Arabia.
Prosecutors revealed that Alfozan had booked one-way flights to Saudi Arabia in September for himself and his family but was detained shortly before departure in mid-October. His wife and infant son subsequently left the U.S. to travel to Qatar on business-class tickets reportedly purchased by a Saudi military official, whom defense lawyers identified as a relative acting independently.
Court filings allege that Alfozan maintained frequent WhatsApp contact with an unidentified Saudi royal family member throughout 2025 and 2026. According to prosecutors, the royal attempted to recruit Alfozan for a Saudi AI initiative, with messages exchanged affirming his commitment to the idea. Alfozan reportedly indicated he planned to remain at OpenAI until his stock options vested.
The final communication recorded between Alfozan and the Saudi contact took place on October 5, the same day Alfozan attempted to retrieve the recording device from the conference room, where it had already been removed by OpenAI during a security sweep. The company notified the FBI after discovering the device.
OpenAI is currently assessing the extent of any information that may have been compromised and determining whether this constitutes corporate espionage or state-sponsored spying. During a detention hearing, Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse expressed concern over a letter from Saudi Arabia’s Consulate in Los Angeles offering to cover Alfozan’s bail, suggesting it amounted to a “blank check.”
In a recent podcast interview, Alfozan reflected on attending a 2016 Silicon Valley event where Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman advised young Saudis to develop their skills abroad before returning home. Alfozan quoted the Crown Prince as encouraging attendees to “learn from the source” and later bring their expertise back to Saudi Arabia.