OpenAI Engineer Accused of Spying on Executives Ordered to Remain in Custody
wired ·
A federal judge has ordered former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan to remain in custody while awaiting trial, citing significant concerns that he is a flight risk due to his ties to Saudi Arabia. Prosecutors argued that the Saudi government offered to secure his release with no strings attached, which Judge Alex Tse likened to a "blank check" that undermines the court's authority. Alfozan faces charges related to placing a covert audio recording device in an executive conference room at OpenAI to spy on confidential meetings. His defense attorney dismissed these allegations as baseless, claiming there was no evidence of espionage and that the electronics found at his home were for personal projects. Authorities allege that Alfozan maintained frequent communications with a member of the Saudi royal family who sought to recruit him for a new AI initiative. Additionally, prosecutors pointed to his substantial financial resources from previous tech roles as further evidence of his ability to flee the country. The case has drawn international attention due to the alleged amateur spycraft and the geopolitical tensions involving Saudi Arabia and the United States.
wired