Abdulrahman Alfozan
Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi engineer who worked at OpenAI since July 2025, was arrested by the FBI on 9 October 2026 for allegedly planting an audio‑recording device in an OpenAI executive conference room. The device was discovered on 30 September 2026, and his contract was terminated immediately after the arrest. He is a legal permanent resident of the United States, has a detention hearing scheduled for 19 October 2026, and could face a maximum five‑year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine. US prosecutors allege he communicated with a Saudi royal family member and that a Saudi military official paid for a one‑way flight for his wife and son to Doha following the arrest. The FBI investigation is ongoing. Abdulrahman Alfozan had a folder called "Saudi Gov Docs" on his iPhone. Abdulrahman Alfozan was chatting on WhatsApp with a member of the KSA royal family. Alfozan was pursuing opportunities to permanently move back to Saudi Arabia. The one‑way ticket to Riyadh was paid for by the Saudi government. Abdulrahman Alfozan received a technical degree from MIT. Abdulrahman Alfozan received a technical degree from UC Berkeley. Alfozan is a US permanent legal resident. Alfozan was living at home with his family in California. Alfozan had been working in Silicon Valley. Abdulrahman Alfozan worked for OpenAI for around a year before being accused of planting a device. Abdulrahman Alfozan was arrested by the FBI on 9 October 2026. Abdulrahman Alfozan’s contract with OpenAI was terminated after his arrest. Abdulrahman Alfozan was scheduled to fly from San Francisco to Riyadh on a one‑way itinerary with his wife and son three days before his arrest (on 6 October 2026). Abdulrahman Alfozan is alleged to have had considerable support from the Saudi government. OpenAI TERMINATED_CONTRACT_FOR Abdulrahman Alfozan Abdulrahman Alfozan COMMUNICATED_WITH Saudi royal family Saudi government SUPPORTS Abdulrahman Alfozan Abdulrahman Alfozan SCHEDULED_FLIGHT_FROM San Francisco· Entity summary generated by Graphiti
Relation timeline
BY VALID-FROM DATE- Abdulrahman AlfozanHAS SUPPORT FROMSaudi government
Abdulrahman Alfozan had considerable support from the Saudi government
- Abdulrahman AlfozanTHREATENSUnited States
Abdulrahman Alfozan’s alleged conduct was considered a potential threat to the national security of the United States
- Abdulrahman AlfozanCONTRACT TERMINATED BYOpenAI
The contract of Abdulrahman Alfozan with OpenAI was terminated
- Saudi governmentSUPPORTSAbdulrahman Alfozan
Saudi government SUPPORTS Abdulrahman Alfozan
- Abdulrahman AlfozanWORKS ATOpenAI
Abdulrahman Alfozan worked for OpenAI
- Abdulrahman AlfozanAPPEARS IN COURT INSan Francisco
Abdulrahman Alfozan is scheduled to appear in federal court in San Francisco
- Abdulrahman AlfozanSCHEDULED DEPARTURE FROMSan Francisco
Abdulrahman Alfozan was scheduled to fly from San Francisco to Riyadh
- Abdulrahman AlfozanSCHEDULED ARRIVAL TORiyadh
Abdulrahman Alfozan was scheduled to fly to Riyadh
- Abdulrahman AlfozanCOMMUNICATED WITHFederal Police
Abdulrahman Alfozan COMMUNICATED_WITH Saudi royal family
- Abdulrahman AlfozanLIVES INCalifornia
Alfozan was living at home with his family in California.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanPLANS TO MIGRATE TOSaudi Arabia
Alfozan was pursuing opportunities to permanently move back to Saudi Arabia.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanALUMNI ATUC Berkeley
Abdulrahman Alfozan received a technical degree from UC Berkeley.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanRESIDES INUnited States
Alfozan is a US permanent legal resident.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanWORKED INSilicon Valley
Alfozan had been working in Silicon Valley.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanUSED APPWhatsApp
Abdulrahman Alfozan was chatting on WhatsApp with a member of the KSA royal family.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanALUMNI ATDoctolib
Abdulrahman Alfozan received a technical degree from MIT.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanHAS FOLDERSaudi Gov Docs
Abdulrahman Alfozan had a folder called "Saudi Gov Docs" on his iPhone.
- Saudi governmentPAID FOR TICKET FORAbdulrahman Alfozan
The one‑way ticket to Riyadh was paid for by the Saudi government.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanHAS DETENTION HEARING SCHEDULEDOpenAI
Abdulrahman Alfozan has a detention hearing scheduled on 2026-10-19
- FBIINVESTIGATESAbdulrahman Alfozan
FBI is investigating Abdulrahman Alfozan
- Abdulrahman AlfozanAPPEARED INCalifornia
Abdulrahman Alfozan made his initial appearance in a federal court in California
- Abdulrahman AlfozanHAS CASEOffice of the Comptroller of the Currency
Abdulrahman Alfozan is the defendant in United States v. Abdulrahman Alfozan.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanUSED CHATBOTChatGPT
Abdulrahman Alfozan used a chatbot (ChatGPT) to help build the surveillance device.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanWORKS ATOpenAI
Abdulrahman Alfozan worked as an OpenAI engineer for more than a year
- Abdulrahman AlfozanFROMSaudi Arabia
Abdulrahman Alfozan is from Saudi Arabia
- FBIANNOUNCED ARREST OFAbdulrahman Alfozan
The FBI announced the arrest of Abdulrahman Alfozan
- FBIACCUSESAbdulrahman Alfozan
The FBI accuses Abdulrahman Alfozan of planting a recording device in an OpenAI conference room
- Abdulrahman AlfozanARRESTED BYDepartment of Justice
Abdulrahman Alfozan was arrested by the Department of Justice
- Department of JusticeFILES CHARGE AGAINSTAbdulrahman Alfozan
The Department of Justice filed a charge against Abdulrahman Alfozan
- OpenAIFIREDAbdulrahman Alfozan
OpenAI fired Abdulrahman Alfozan following the incident
- Abdulrahman AlfozanIS EMPLOYEE OFOpenAI
Abdulrahman Alfozan is a former engineer at OpenAI
- OpenAIIDENTIFIEDAbdulrahman Alfozan
OpenAI identified Abdulrahman Alfozan using its models
- Abdulrahman AlfozanSCHEDULED FLIGHT FROMSan Francisco
Abdulrahman Alfozan SCHEDULED_FLIGHT_FROM San Francisco
- Abdulrahman AlfozanWAS ARRESTED BYUnited States Justice Department
Abdulrahman Alfozan was arrested by the U.S. Department of Justice on 2026‑10‑09 for allegedly planting an audio‑recording device in OpenAI’s executive conference room.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanFIRED BYOpenAI
Abdulrahman Alfozan was fired by OpenAI following his arrest on 2026‑10‑09.
- Abdulrahman AlfozanARRESTED BYFBI
Abdulrahman Alfozan was arrested by the FBI
- OpenAITERMINATED CONTRACT FORAbdulrahman Alfozan
OpenAI TERMINATED_CONTRACT_FOR Abdulrahman Alfozan
- Abdulrahman AlfozanARRESTED BYFBI
Abdulrahman Alfozan was arrested by the FBI on 9 October 2026.
- FBIARRESTEDAbdulrahman Alfozan
The FBI arrested Abdulrahman Alfozan on 2026‑10‑09
- Abdulrahman AlfozanTERMINATED BYOpenAI
Abdulrahman Alfozan’s contract with OpenAI was terminated after his arrest.
Relations are facts Graphiti extracted from reports, not verbatim quotes. An end date means later reporting showed the relation no longer holds.
Events 6
- Accused OpenAI spy had folder called “Saudi Gov Docs,” FBI says1 cited report · 2026-10-20
- Ex-OpenAI worker accused of planting bug had Saudi support, claims prosecutors1 cited report · 2026-10-20
- Recording device hidden in toilet paper found in top-secret OpenAI meeting room2 cited reports · 2026-10-15
- Toilet paper and secret recorders: What we know about the arrest of the Saudi OpenAI engineer1 cited report · 2026-10-14
- Alleged OpenAI spy vibe-coded a surveillance device using his wife's chatbot account1 cited report · 2026-10-14
- OpenAI Engineer Arrested for Bugging Office, Company Says AI Caught Him1 cited report · 2026-10-14
Source reports 7
- Accused OpenAI spy had folder called “Saudi Gov Docs,” FBI saysArs Technica · AI · 2026-10-20
- Ex-OpenAI worker accused of planting bug had Saudi support, claims prosecutorsBBC World · 2026-10-20
- Recording device hidden in toilet paper found in top-secret OpenAI meeting roomArs Technica · AI · 2026-10-15
- Toilet paper and secret recorders: What we know about the arrest of the Saudi OpenAI engineerBBC World · 2026-10-14
- Alleged OpenAI spy vibe-coded a surveillance device using his wife's chatbot accountThe Decoder · 2026-10-14
- OpenAI Engineer Arrested for Bugging Office, Company Says AI Caught HimDecrypt · 2026-10-14
- OpenAI employee arrested for allegedly planting a bug in a conference roomThe Verge · AI · 2026-10-14