OpenAI security teams discovered a recording device wrapped in toilet paper and hidden inside a television that sat in an executive conference room. The discovery occurred roughly a week before any arrest was made. The device was described by the company as sophisticated.
After the device was found, investigators reviewed video footage from the office. The recordings showed the same employee—a 35‑year‑old Saudi national—entering the restricted conference room without authorization. He was seen on camera checking on the stashed device after a new camera had been installed in the area.
We discovered a sophisticated recording device that was hidden inside one of our offices. We used our models to understand the device and where it had come from, identifying that a specific employee had planted it a few days earlier. We referred the matter to the FBI, and we’re grateful to the agents and prosecutors who moved quickly to make an arrest. The FBI’s investigation is ongoing and we will continue to support their work. At this time, we have no indications of this individual inappropriately accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code, or customer data. The employee was terminated. We take protecting our technology, data, and people seriously, and as a matter of national importance. Our security program is designed to protect against a wide range of threat actors, from insider risks to cybercriminals to nation states, and this case is an example of how AI can help address these sophisticated security threats.
To determine who had placed the device, OpenAI turned to its internal artificial intelligence systems. According to a company spokesperson, the AI models were used to understand the device’s origin and to identify the specific employee who had planted it. The spokesperson said the models helped pinpoint the employee responsible.
The same day a criminal complaint was filed in the San Francisco district court.
On 2026‑10‑13 the employee was arrested by federal authorities. The same day a criminal complaint was filed in the San Francisco district court. Federal charges include using a device to intercept oral communications. Following the arrest, OpenAI terminated his employment and reported the matter to the FBI.
NEWS RELEASE out of @FBISanFrancisco: Saudi National Arrested for Installing Surreptitious Audio Recording Device at San Francisco Super Intelligence Company Read more about how this #FBI is protecting American businesses and defending national security. https://t.co/whUZzwwH6q https://t.co/nfUGfgXl15
The suspect is identified as a 35‑year‑old Saudi national who worked as an engineer at OpenAI. His role gave him access to the office facilities where the device was concealed.
OpenAI emphasized that, despite the breach, there is no evidence that the individual accessed or exfiltrated any of the company’s proprietary assets. A spokesperson stated that at the time of the statement there were no indications of inappropriate access to model weights, source code, or customer data.