Ethmos Podcast Pulse
Start free
← The Pulse · week of Oct 19–25
PodcastThe Journal.October 22, 2026

Did OpenAI Just Catch a Spy?

OpenAI's rapid camera-trap sting and FBI coordination caught an alleged spy, underscoring intensifying national-security fears around AI trade secrets.

  • Device and discovery: OpenAI security staff found a ~$14 microphone attached to a micro SD card, wrapped in toilet paper, plugged behind a conference room TV used for top-secret research and government meetings.
  • Suspect identified via sting: OpenAI had no interior cameras, so investigators planted a hidden camera behind the TV; a week later it photographed engineering lead Abdulrahman Alfozan looking shocked after finding his device removed.

The full card is a free trial away.

The full summary and the deep dive on this episode, plus a brief every morning on the shows and companies you follow.

Read free — start your trial

14-day free trial

Themes, sentiment and reasons are AI-written paraphrases, checked so they never quote an episode. They may contain errors. Not investment advice. Episodes remain the property of their creators.