Saudi National Who Bugged OpenAI Conference Room Communicated With Royal Family Member Before Arrest

A Saudi national who faces criminal charges after allegedly attempting to bug an OpenAI conference room was communicating with a member of the Saudi Royal family via a messaging app in the days leading up to his arrest, prosecutors allege.

Federal prosecutors disclosed the information in a court filing Sunday. In it, prosecutors claimed that Abdulrahman Alfozan had communicated with the Saudi royal as recently as October 5. Alfozan, 35, was arrested four days later on charges related to placing a device in an OpenAI conference room.

"Among other things, the individual [the royal family member] told the defendant [Alfozan] that an artificial intelligence initiative was being launched in Saudi Arabia and wanted the defendant to join it," prosecutors wrote in their filing, according to CNBC. "In May 2026, the individual told the defendant, 'Saudi needs you more then [sic] the US!' to which the defendant responded' 100,′ indicating he agreed."

Federal prosecutors said that the Saudi royal repeatedly attempted to recruit Alfozan, but Alfozan said he wouldn't leave the company until his stock had vested.

In the filing, the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco argues that Alfozan should be held without bail and is a flight risk. The filing noted that Alfozan and his family were planning to leave the United States on October 12. After Alfozan was arrested, a member of the Saudi military booked separate flights for his wife and their three-month-old baby son, and they left earlier this month.

Alfozan worked at OpenAI since July 2025. Toward the end of September of this year, OpenAI employees found an audio recording device inserted into a USB port on the back of a television in an executive conference room.

The device was concealed in toilet paper, and the company believes it had been placed sometime around Sept. 28. The device's contents were encrypted.

After reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, OpenAI found that Alfozan was near the conference room several times in the days leading up to the device's discovery. However, Alfozan was not participating in any meetings in the room and was not authorized to enter it.

Prosecutors said the conference room was used for meetings in which highly confidential information was discussed, including proprietary research, product plans, technical information, and other nonpublic information.

Federal authorities alleged that Alfozan also used a productivity tool to make inquiries regarding OpenAI building addresses, meeting rooms, calendars, and "leadership and exec" locations.

Alfozan entered the conference room on October 5 and was photographed peeking behind the TV in which he had already inserted the recording device. Also on that day Alfozan left a bag in a room at OpenAI. Inside, security found Alfozan's wallet, ID, and another recording device.

If convicted, Alfozan faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, followed by 3 years of supervised release.