Recording device found in OpenAI executive conference room

<p>OpenAI discovered a recording device hidden in a restricted executive conference room after two days. This room is designated for discussions involving highly confidential information, including technical progress, government engagements, and commercial partnerships.</p><p>The FBI suspects that the device was planted by Abdulrahman Alfozan, a 35-year-old engineer from Saudi Arabia, who has been a permanent US legal resident since 2020. In a press release on Tuesday, the FBI stated that chatbot logs and CCTV footage indicated that Alfozan, who worked as an OpenAI engineer for over a year, intended to use the device to spy on the organization and potentially leak trade secrets, posing a risk to national security.</p><p>According to the FBI, Alfozan concealed the USB device by wrapping it in toilet paper and plugging it into the back of a conference room television. The device was likely installed on September 28, and OpenAI discovered it on September 30, quickly determining that its contents were encrypted. Following this incident, OpenAI installed a camera in the conference room on October 5, and CCTV footage reportedly captured Alfozan attempting to retrieve the recording device on the same day.</p>