Ex-OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan denied bail over hidden recording device in California

Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old engineer who worked for OpenAI for around a year, sat in a California courtroom on Monday as prosecutors laid out a startling espionage case. US prosecutors told the court that Alfozan had considerable support from the Saudi government, including frequent communication with a member of the royal family. The case broke open after OpenAI discovered an audio recorder plugged into the back of a TV in a conference meeting room on September 30, covered up with toilet paper. A hidden camera then filmed Alfozan entering the room on October 5 and appearing to look behind the television. According to the BBC, the FBI arrested Alfozan on October 9 just three days before he was scheduled to fly to Riyadh on a one-way ticket with his family. Prosecutors argued his alleged conduct posed a danger to United States national security because executives from the artificial intelligence firm met with government officials in that exact room while the device was active. US district judge Alex Tse denied the defense request for release on bail, ruling that the flight risk was significant. Alfozan now faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.