Espionage in AI labs poses a national security threat, according to US intelligence and security officials.

The FBI arrested an OpenAI employee and charged him with planting a surveillance device in an executive conference room to record the company’s plans for its artificial intelligence, the company and FBI confirmed on Tuesday.

The US Department of Justice identified the employee as 35-year-old Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi Arabian citizen and legal permanent resident of the US, who joined OpenAI’s product team in July 2025. He was fired and arrested on Oct. 9 on suspicion of violating US law by using “an electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept oral communications.” The charge comes with a possible five-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.

In a statement, Jay Clayton, director of national intelligence, said that the incident underscores the importance of US success in AI development as “a national security prerogative.” 

The complaint, filed in the Northern District of California, says Alfozan allegedly placed a “thumb-sized development board with a detachable camera sensor, digital microphone and microSD storage.” It was wrapped in toilet paper and stuck into a TV port. A second recording device was found in a bag Alfozan allegedly left in a printer room along with his wallet and ID.

The conference room where he allegedly planted the bug could be reserved only by executives and their assistants — Alfozan did not have access — and was frequently used to discuss proprietary research and hold meetings with government and industry officials.

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