The United States has linked the Saudi government to a man they arrested while spying

San Francisco (Caasmada Online) — A former engineer at the renowned company OpenAI, who is accused of secretly placing recording devices in the executive meeting room of the company, is believed to have received substantial support from the Saudi Arabian government, according to U.S. federal prosecutors.

Documents submitted to the court by prosecutors revealed that this man, identified as Abdulrahman Alfozan, aged 35, had a regular connection with a member of the Saudi royal family.

He is also accused of having a military officer from that country provide a one-way ticket for his wife and young son to return to Saudi Arabia after he was arrested.

The U.S. government has requested the federal judge to keep Alfozan in custody while his case is ongoing, arguing that there is a significant risk he would flee the country if released on bail.

Alfozan, a Saudi national but holding a permanent resident status in the U.S. (Green Card), is expected to appear before the federal court in San Francisco.

This case has unveiled the intense competition and security challenges surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) research, as governments and major companies worldwide are in fierce competition over who will lead this future-defining technology.

Devices hidden behind the TV

According to the indictment, Alfozan had sophisticated equipment that was specifically configured and his data was encrypted, connected to a television in the executive conference room at the OpenAI headquarters located in San Francisco.

The prosecution stated that during the installation of that equipment, sensitive meetings were taking place in the room involving the top executives of the company, international businesspeople, and members of the U.S. government.

OpenAI reported that it discovered the equipment on September 30, and subsequently forwarded the information to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The indictment also revealed that a member of the Saudi royal family attempted to recruit Alfozan for a position related to AI operations within Saudi Arabia, sending a message stating: “Saudi Arabia needs you more than the U.S. needs you!” to which Alfozan responded “100%.”

Before his arrest, Alfozan had planned to fly to Riyadh while he was on a two-month paternity leave. His wife confirmed to investigators that they had planned to move permanently to Saudi Arabia, and he would follow later.

Defense attorney and Alfozan's history

Alfozan's defense attorney, William Pernik, requested the court to grant bail, agreeing to conditions that included monitoring the movement of the equipment and surrendering his passport.

The defense has argued that Alfozan has been residing in the United States for the past 15 years and that he applied for citizenship, and that his trip to Saudi Arabia was a family visit planned before the investigation began.

Alfozan previously worked with Facebook, and in an interview last month, he stated that he visits Saudi Arabia several times a year to provide advice to youth companies in that country.

He noted that a meeting he had in 2016 with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman encouraged him to gain knowledge from the largest companies in the United States before returning his career to his home country.

The Saudi government's media office has not yet issued any statement regarding these new allegations, while U.S. security agencies have stated that the investigation is still ongoing and additional charges may be brought against the defendant.