Listening device in USB socket, wrapped in toilet paper – FBI arrests OpenAI employee

An employee of ChatGPT developer OpenAI is suspected of having placed a listening device in a company conference room where trade secrets are often discussed. The 35-year-old Saudi national was arrested, the AI ​​company and the US Department of Justice announced. The US Federal Police FBI is investigating the case.

According to investigators, the recording device discovered two weeks ago had been placed in the conference room in San Francisco about two days earlier. It was stuck in the USB socket of a television, wrapped in toilet paper.

According to the ministry, inquiries about recording devices were made via a chatbot account belonging to the OpenAI employee's wife. Characteristics of the listening device discovered in the conference room were also found in the chat process. In addition, the conversations indicated that he had worked on two other similar devices. If convicted, the employee, who has since been fired, faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 (around 225,000 euros).

According to a court document, the employee also left a mark on an internal AI system with research into which conference room to target. Among other things, he asked where top managers meet - and how to find the occupancy calendar for the room. After the recording device was discovered, a camera was placed behind the television. It was then used to capture the employee's face when he looked behind the TV a few days later.

Concern about Chinese spies in AI labs

US intelligence coordinator Jay Clayton emphasized in the statement that the case shows how important it is for US national security to win the race to develop artificial intelligence. Clayton was also appointed by President Donald Trump to play a central role in AI oversight.

Only recently, an AI researcher who is now acting as a whistleblower expressed the suspicion that Chinese spies had infiltrated the large AI laboratories of OpenAI and Anthropic. He did not present any evidence for this.