OpenAI engineer accused of spying on execs ordered to stay in custody

former openai engineer abdulrahman alfozan has been ordered to remain in custody while awaiting trial on charges of spying on company executives. alfozan, a us permanent resident, is accused of hiding a covert audio recording device in a conference room used for confidential business meetings at openai. the device was discovered in late september and alfozan was subsequently fired and arrested by the fbi. prosecutors allege that alfozan has ties to the saudi arabian government, including communications with a member of the royal family and a job offer to work on an ai initiative. these ties raise concerns about alfozan's potential flight risk, with the judge likening the saudi government's offer to secure his release to a 'blank check'.