Ex-OpenAI worker accused of planting recording device had Saudi backing, prosecutors claim
US prosecutors claim former OpenAI employee Abdulrahman Alfozan had Saudi government support when planting a covert recording device in a meeting room.
A Saudi national and former OpenAI employee charged with covertly placing a listening device in a company meeting room acted with substantial assistance from the Saudi government, according to a US court filing in California.
Prosecutors alleged that Abdulrahman Alfozan maintained "frequent communication" with a member of the Saudi royal family while working at the artificial intelligence firm. The filing indicates that Alfozan received backing from foreign state actors prior to planting the device. Federal authorities are continuing to investigate the extent of the alleged espionage operation targeting the San Francisco-based AI developer.
Sources: BBC News