Saudi Arabia allegedly helped OpenAI spy engineer flee arrest

US federal prosecutors are claiming that an ex-OpenAI engineer got help from the Saudi government after planting a recording device in an executive conference room. The man accused is Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35. He was caught trying to secretly record sensitive meetings at OpenAI's San Francisco buildings. These sessions involved senior company staff, business rivals, and even government officials.

A court document released late Sunday says the defendant talked often with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family. It also states that a military official from Saudi Arabia paid for a one-way plane ticket to take Alfozan's wife and young son back home after he was arrested. This detail is part of a larger request by prosecutors to keep him in US custody before his trial because they argue he might try to flee.

The case throws light on how security risks grow when companies and governments fight for an edge in artificial intelligence research. Prosecutors wrote that Alfozan went to great lengths to build custom, encrypted recording gadgets. He used them while staying in touch with important figures in Saudi Arabia and planning trips there. One message cited by the prosecution shows a royal family member recruiting him for an AI job at home, writing "Saudi needs you more then [sic] the US!" Alfozan replied simply, "100."

The Saudi government media office did not immediately answer requests for comment. Nor did Alfozan's lawyer respond right away. William Pernik asked earlier that his client be released on conditions like monitoring and handing over his passport. He noted that Alfozan has lived in the US for 15 years and had applied for citizenship. The planned flight to Riyadh was booked before the investigation started, according to a filing, and was meant for family and immigration reasons.

Alfozan is scheduled to appear in federal court in San Francisco later Monday. He is a Saudi national who holds lawful permanent resident status here. US prosecutors charged him last week with using an electronic device to intercept oral communications. They say the investigation is still active and could bring more charges against him soon.

His wife told investigators they planned a permanent move to Saudi Arabia with their son, while Alfozan intended to join them later, prosecutors said.

Last month, in an Arabic interview on the Identity Capital podcast, Alfozan claimed he travels to the kingdom three or four times yearly and watches developments closely there. He also advised or mentored local startups during those visits.

He met Prince Mohammed bin Salman back in 2016 at a gathering with young Saudi tech workers in Silicon Valley. That encounter pushed him to train at a leading technology firm before returning home with new skills.

While working for Facebook, Alfozan and other Saudis living in the valley launched a consulting group. This initiative connected public and private sector groups across Saudi Arabia with experts in big data, the internet of things, and machine learning.

OpenAI said it found the device on September 30 and then sent the matter to the FBI for review.

Al Jazeera has contacted the Saudi embassy asking for comments on the story.