According to reports, a former Saudi employee of OpenAI was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on October 9 on suspicion of installing hidden recording devices in executive meeting rooms. OpenAI stated that upon discovering the devices, the company notified the FBI and terminated the employee’s employment; the individual joined the company's product team in July 2025.

Prosecutors charged the individual with using electronic devices to intercept private conversations, which, if convicted, could result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison. OpenAI disclosed that the devices featured encryption, audio surveillance, and data transmission capabilities, and emphasized there is currently no evidence indicating the employee had improperly accessed or stolen model weights, source code, or customer data. The FBI Director stated the operation aimed to obtain sensitive communications regarding the company’s superintelligent technology; the specific purpose of the devices remains unclear.