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TechTOP STORY

Accused OpenAI spy pressed by Saudi royal over WhatsApp

Prosecutors say a Saudi royal repeatedly pressed the engineer to quit OpenAI, and he reportedly wanted his stock to vest first; a detention hearing is set.

On air: Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger on BBN Newsroom
Published
Photo: Coolcaesar · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Newsroom at 1:50 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are New York Post's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: OpenAI
Photo: Coolcaesar · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

What BBN said about it

  1. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBig story today: prosecutors say a Saudi royal kept messaging an ex-OpenAI engineer on WhatsApp, telling him Saudi needs him more than the US.

  2. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe engineer is Abdulrahman Alfozan, thirty-five, charged with trying to bug OpenAI's meetings.

  3. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorProsecutors say the royal asked repeatedly when he planned to leave the company.

  4. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd what did he say? I love a good answer.

  5. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHe reportedly said he wouldn't go until his stock vested.

  6. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorPatience! You don't see that anymore. Stick to the plan, finish the vesting, then go.

  7. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorProsecutors say the device sat behind a television in an executive conference room, and that he booked one-way tickets to Saudi Arabia for himself and his family.

  8. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHe was arrested on October ninth.

  9. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA team player right up to the one-way tickets.

  10. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHe's pleaded to nothing yet, and prosecutors haven't identified the royal. Rex has the weekend's other bad behavior, and some of it involves spit.

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The story so far

  1. Gymnastics coach gets 90 years; OpenAI engineer arrested · Fox News
  2. US justice department sues California over alleged noncitizen voting · The Guardian
  3. OpenAI engineer arrested by FBI for allegedly bugging conference room · New York Post
  4. Fired OpenAI engineer also advised Saudi agencies, NYT reports · The New York Times
  5. AI engineer accused of bugging conference room; DNI warns of AI threat · Fox News
  6. OpenAI bugging suspect messaged Saudi royal before arrest · CNBC
  7. Accused OpenAI spy pressed by Saudi royal over WhatsApp (this story)
  8. US issues rare Middle East red alert to citizens in region · Euronews.com

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