OpenAI has terminated engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan following his arrest by the FBI. The 35-year-old employee is accused of installing a sophisticated recording device in an executive conference room at the company's San Francisco office.
The device was discovered on September 30, hidden in a USB port behind a television. OpenAI stated that internal investigations, which utilized their own models, identified Alfozan as the individual who planted the device. A second identical recording device was later found in the suspect's bag.
According to the Department of Justice, Alfozan had been employed at OpenAI since July 2025. CCTV footage showed him entering the restricted conference room multiple times without authorization. The room was frequently used for discussions regarding confidential technical, commercial, and strategic information.
The suspect faces charges of illegally intercepting oral communications. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250 000. OpenAI confirmed there is no evidence that model weights, source code, or customer data were compromised.
