Adaptive Security, a leading provider of AI-powered social engineering prevention, has secured a $43 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and the OpenAI Startup Fund. This marks OpenAI’s first-ever cybersecurity investment, underscoring the urgency of defending against AI-driven cyber threats. With participation from Abstract Ventures, Eniac Ventures, CrossBeam Ventures, K5, and executives from Google, Workday, Shopify, and more, the investment will fuel Adaptive’s development of next-gen security solutions to counter deepfake, AI phishing, and social engineering attacks.
I. The Rising Threat of AI-Powered Social Engineering
1) Deepfake Persona Attacks Are on the Rise
- AI-generated deepfake personas can now impersonate real people in phone calls, video chats, and emails with stunning accuracy.
- Entrust reports a deepfake attack attempt every five minutes in the U.S. (100,000+ incidents in 2024).
- Sumsub: Deepfake attacks in the U.S. surged 17x YoY, fueled by open-source AI models with weak safeguards.
2) High-Profile Deepfake Incidents
- Fake Ukraine foreign minister impersonated in a call with U.S. Senator Ben Cardin to manipulate policy.
- AI-generated voices tricked a Hong Kong bank manager into wiring $25 million.
- Cybercriminals cloned Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport’s voice in an advanced deepfake attack.
3) Organizations Are Unprepared
- Deepfake tech is no longer limited to high-profile executives—anyone can be cloned in seconds.
- AI-powered phishing attacks can replicate personal communication styles, making fraud detection harder.
- Security teams lack real-time AI defense solutions to counter evolving threats.
II. How Adaptive Security Defends Against AI-Powered Attacks
1) AI-Powered Deepfake Attack Simulations
- Simulated AI-driven phone calls, SMS, and emails test employee security awareness.
- Real-time training adapts to failed simulations, strengthening organizational resilience.
2) AI Security Training & Compliance Modules
- Hundreds of expert-vetted, mobile-friendly training modules for security and HR compliance.
- Employees rate Adaptive Training 4.8/5, making it one of the highest-rated security training platforms.
3) GenAI-Powered Training Content
- Organizations can generate new training materials instantly using GenAI for text, images, and video.
4) Real-Time Threat Detection & Triage
- Employees can report suspicious phishing attempts for automated AI-driven scanning & mitigation.
5) AI-Driven Risk Scoring
- Real-time vulnerability assessments at the individual, department, and company level to identify risks.
III. Industry Leaders Endorse Adaptive Security
- Brian Long, CEO & Co-Founder, Adaptive Security:
“AI-driven social engineering is one of today’s most urgent cybersecurity threats. Attackers are weaponizing AI personas to deceive employees, and our platform protects companies from end to end.” - Zane Lackey, General Partner, a16z:
“Adaptive’s AI-native platform helps organizations proactively train employees and respond to attacks in real time. We’re proud to back their mission.” - Ian Hathaway, Partner, OpenAI Startup Fund:
“AI is reshaping the threat landscape. Adaptive Security is building exactly what the industry needs—an AI-native defense platform that evolves as fast as the attackers.”
AI-driven deepfake scams and GenAI attacks are rapidly evolving, posing a critical cybersecurity challenge. With its AI-powered security platform, Adaptive Security is leading the charge, providing businesses with the tools to simulate attacks, train employees, and respond in real time.
With backing from top-tier investors like a16z and OpenAI, Adaptive is scaling its solutions to protect organizations against the next generation of AI-driven cyber threats.
