A US court has ruled to keep Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former OpenAI engineer, in detention while the government investigates allegations of espionage. The government claims Alfozan was spying for personal benefit or to aid the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, referencing his communications with a Saudi royal and the discovery of a folder titled 'Saudi Gov Docs' on his iPhone. The case is part of a broader investigation into potential security breaches at OpenAI.
Key facts
- Court denied release of Abdulrahman Alfozan on October 19, 2026.
- Alfozan is accused of spying on OpenAI for personal or foreign gain.
- Evidence includes communication with a Saudi royal family member.
- FBI found a folder named 'Saudi Gov Docs' on Alfozan's iPhone.
- Alfozan was reportedly seeking to move back to Saudi Arabia.
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