Former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan, accused of planting a recording device in an executive meeting room, was in contact with a Saudi royal and planned to leave the US, prosecutors said. In an 11-page filing, prosecutors said investigators found evidence indicating that Alfozan may have planned to install additional devices in the AI firm’s offices. ", as part of a campaign to recruit him. Alfozan was arrested on 9 October, three days before he was scheduled to leave the US with his wife and infant son on a one-way flight to Riyadh. The filing also revealed that his wife and three-month-old son left the country on 10 October on business-class tickets bought by a Saudi military official. According to a Bloomberg report, Magistrate Judge Alex G. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Alfozan, a green card holder, was arrested earlier this month after OpenAI staff found an audio recording device planted behind a television in an executive conference room. According to the DOJ, Alfozan was not authorised to access the executive conference room where investigators found the device. Surveillance footage also showed him near the conference room several times before the "recording device" was found. About the AuthorSwati GandhiSwati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership. Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends. At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business. Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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