A former OpenAI engineer, Abdulrahman Alfozan, has been ordered to remain in custody without bail as he faces charges related to planting a hidden recording device at the company’s San Francisco offices. The decision, made by U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse on Monday, follows allegations that Mr. Alfozan, a Saudi national, was engaged in covert surveillance potentially linked to the Saudi government.

Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting extensive ties between Mr. Alfozan and Saudi Arabia. Among the details, they disclosed that a Saudi military official financed the departure of Mr. Alfozan’s wife and infant son from the United States shortly after his arrest, booking a one-way business-class flight to Doha, Qatar. While an earlier plan to fly them directly to Saudi Arabia was canceled, the official involved has been identified as a Saudi naval officer and family member of Mr. Alfozan’s wife. The Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles also offered to cover Mr. Alfozan’s bail, an offer the judge described as a “blank check” that could cover any amount set by the court.

At the hearing, Mr. Alfozan’s defense team emphasized his long-standing connections to the United States, noting that he was close to obtaining U.S. citizenship and prepared to begin paternity leave from OpenAI. His lawyers argued that if he were truly acting as an agent for a foreign government, it would have been unlikely for him to remain in the country or appear committed to a future in the U.S. They also highlighted submissions of support letters and documentation of his planned naturalization interview.

Prosecutors, however, painted a different picture. They stated that Mr. Alfozan had been frequently in contact with a member of the Saudi royal family who encouraged him to return to Saudi Arabia, quoting correspondence in which a royal figure wrote, “Saudi needs you more,” to which Mr. Alfozan reportedly replied, “100.” They also pointed to evidence recovered from Mr. Alfozan’s home and phone, including electronic parts similar to those found in the bugging device and photographs of concealed locations within OpenAI offices.

The incident has raised broader concerns about the security of artificial intelligence research facilities in the United States, given the advanced technology and proprietary models developed at OpenAI and other labs. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in artificial intelligence, establishing data centers and collaborating with global technology firms.

This case echoes previous instances involving Saudi nationals and allegations of espionage. Prosecutors referenced a 2015 incident involving a former Twitter employee who was allegedly assisted by the Saudi government in leaving the U.S. after being accused of spying. With no extradition treaty between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, authorities expressed particular caution.

A preliminary hearing for Mr. Alfozan is scheduled for November 6, with the investigation ongoing and the possibility of additional charges being filed. The Saudi Embassy in Washington has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.