Ex-OpenAI worker accused of planting device had Saudi support says court filing

Key Points:

• Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi engineer formerly employed by OpenAI, is charged with secretly planting a recording device in one of the company's meeting rooms, with prosecutors alleging he had significant support from the Saudi government.
• US authorities claim Alfozan was in frequent contact with a member of the Saudi royal family and that a Saudi military official paid for a one-way flight for his wife and son to leave the US shortly after his arrest.
• The recording device was discovered on 30 September, and Alfozan was caught on camera inspecting the area where it was hidden before being arrested by the FBI on 9 October; his contract with OpenAI was subsequently terminated.
• Prosecutors argue that Alfozan poses a flight risk and a national security threat, as the compromised meeting room was used for discussions between OpenAI executives and US government officials.
• Alfozan is due to appear in federal court in San Francisco, facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.