Former OpenAI engineer denied bail over alleged recording device; Saudi Arabia offered $1 million guarantee

A federal judge in the US has ordered former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan to remain in jail after questioning whether a $1 million bond backed by Saudi Arabia would ensure he returned to court if released. Alfozan, 35, was arrested on October 9 over allegations that he planted a recording device in an OpenAI conference room where executives and, at times, government officials discussed sensitive information. According to a Fortune report, he will remain in federal custody until his next court date on November 6. Alfozan faces a charge related to intercepting oral communications and has not been indicted or entered a plea.Why the judge rejected the $1 million bail offerMagistrate Judge Alex G. Tse questioned whether the proposed bond would be enough to prevent Alfozan from leaving the US. “Once he leaves, there’s no getting him back, and that’s why this is a bigger case,” Tse said in court.Alfozan’s lawyer, William Pernik, argued that his client planned to return to the US after accompanying his wife and young son to Saudi Arabia during paternity leave. The Saudi Consulate General in Los Angeles offered to cover the full amount of any bail bond set by the court. It also said it would not issue travel documents to Alfozan if he were released.What FBI allegedly found on his phoneCourt filings say investigators found electronic components at Alfozan’s home that were similar to the recording device allegedly placed behind a television in the conference room.The FBI also found photographs on his iPhone, dated September 22 to September 28, showing another recording device and television connections inside OpenAI buildings. Some images were taken in locations where sensitive meetings were held.US prosecutors said the photographs suggested Alfozan had looked for places where additional devices could be installed. His lawyer disputed the government’s account, saying the conference room was open to people who worked there.Prosecutors said they did not know what information Alfozan may have intended to take from OpenAI or the US.“That is the concern, that something is going to leave OpenAI and the U.S., and quite frankly we don’t even know what that is,” Assistant US Attorney Nick Parker said.What OpenAI and Alfozan’s lawyer have saidOpenAI ended Alfozan’s employment on October 9, according to the report. The company has said it has “no indications” that he improperly accessed or took model weights, source code or customer data. Alfozan’s defence stressed that the criminal complaint does not accuse him of espionage, stealing trade secrets or acting as an agent of a foreign government.His lawyer also said Alfozan had lived in the US for 15 years, obtained a green card in 2020 and intended to return to his job after paternity leave.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.