FBI probes AI engineer over Saudi ties

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is evaluating whether to file economic espionage charges against Abdulrahman Alfozan. The former OpenAI engineer was arrested earlier this month for installing a hidden recording device. The Wall Street Journal reported the details of the probe on Saturday.

Investigators are determining if Alfozan collected confidential data to provide to the Saudi government. A law enforcement official told the WSJ that the probe considers whether he acted independently or under formal recruitment. Authorities also weigh potential trade secret theft charges, though the investigation may not lead to further prosecution.

Alfozan, a 35-year-old Saudi national and US permanent resident, allegedly concealed a circuit board and microphone behind a television. The device was placed in a room primarily used by OpenAI executives. He currently faces a federal charge for unlawfully intercepting communications, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. His next court date is November 6.

Prosecutors say Alfozan exchanged frequent WhatsApp messages with an unidentified Saudi royal family member in 2025 and 2026. The official allegedly tried to recruit him for a Saudi AI initiative. The message read, 'Saudi needs you more then the US!' Alfozan replied '100,' but said he would stay at OpenAI until his stock options vested.

The last known message occurred on October 5. Alfozan allegedly returned to the conference room that day to retrieve the device. OpenAI security staff had already found and removed the hardware before notifying the FBI.

Prosecutors disclosed that Alfozan bought one-way tickets to Saudi Arabia for himself, his wife, and their infant son. He was arrested three days before the scheduled departure. His wife and son later flew to Qatar on business-class tickets bought by a Saudi military official. Defense attorneys identified the official as the wife's brother-in-law and stated no military funds were used.

During an October 19 hearing, Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse questioned a letter from the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles. The consulate offered to cover the entire bail bond. Judge Tse asked, 'Even if I set it at $10 million? I find that problematic. Seems like a blank check.' Alfozan was denied bail due to flight risk concerns. OpenAI is now analyzing the data the device may have recorded to determine if the incident was corporate espionage or state-sponsored intelligence gathering.