OpenAI's Former Engineer Seeks Bail in Secret Recording Device Case
An engineer accused of installing a secret recording device at OpenAI has applied for bail, denying any intent to flee the U.S. His legal team argues the timing of his flight booking supports his defense.
Abdulrahman Al-Yahyan, a former engineer at OpenAI, has applied for bail following charges related to the alleged installation of a secret recording device within the company's facilities. His legal representatives submitted court documents requesting his release on bail and refuting claims that he intended to evade legal proceedings. Prosecutors had previously sought to seal arrest documents, asserting that Al-Yahyan possessed both the means and motive to flee the United States.
The defense team contends that the timing of Al-Yahyan's one-way flight booking and travel arrangements does not support the prosecution's narrative. They stated that Al-Yahyan purchased his ticket to Saudi Arabia on September 13, seventeen days before OpenAI discovered the device and twenty-six days prior to his arrest. The legal team further explained that the October 12 departure date was scheduled to accommodate his wife's expiring work visa and her mandatory departure deadline.
According to prosecutors, Al-Yahyan was apprehended on October 9. In the week prior, OpenAI employees uncovered a concealed recording device hidden behind a television in an executive meeting room. OpenAI confirmed Al-Yahyan's termination on the day of his arrest. The incident has drawn international attention amid a global race to develop advanced AI systems and is expected to heighten concerns over security practices at major technology firms.
Al-Yahyan's background is described as long-established in the U.S., having moved there 15 years ago as a university student. He previously worked at Facebook (now Meta) for approximately six years before joining OpenAI in 2025. He has held permanent resident status in the U.S. since 2020 and is the father of a U.S. citizen infant. Several individuals, including a doctor, engineers, and entrepreneurs, have written letters to the court in support of his release.
Al-Yahyan is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing at the federal court in San Francisco on October 19. His attorneys have indicated that the Saudi Arabian Consulate General would support his release under strictly limited conditions, including a travel restriction.