OpenAI finds hidden recorder in executive meeting room

In October 2026, OpenAI discovered a recording device that had been secretly placed in one of its executive conference rooms, according to a Reuters report citing five people with knowledge of the matter. The finding came to light after an internal review, and the device was found to have been installed without authorization.

Current and former employees were not surprised when the incident became known. According to the same report, staff had been raising concerns about OpenAI's security practices with management and its board since at least late 2022, before ChatGPT launched. Some employees said in internal discussions that leadership appeared more focused on catching up to competitors such as Google and Anthropic, and gave security less priority. Those staff described OpenAI's security controls as loose, with people outside the company — including foreign governments — able to obtain sensitive technical information with relative ease. As one example, the sources said that any OpenAI employee with code access could inspect the underlying technical details of a large number of the company's projects.

The Reuters report was picked up by IT之家 on November 4, 2026. Two of the sources added that OpenAI has begun adjusting its security policies, with Thibault Sottiaux, a senior leader responsible for product development, leading efforts to harden internal systems. That work is understood to be underway now.