Adaptive Security, a company specialising in combatting AI-driven social engineering attacks, has announced that it has raised its Series A funding to a total of $55 million. This follows a follow-on investment from the OpenAI Startup Fund, which continues its backing of Adaptive Security. The company claims its approach is unique, positioning Adaptive as the only cybersecurity firm supported by OpenAI's venture arm, underscoring investor confidence in its human-centred cybersecurity model.

The funding emerges amidst a surge in AI-enabled threats. Recent high-profile incidents have showcased the rapid evolution of impersonation attacks, which were once largely theoretical but now frequently target both prominent individuals and everyday consumers. In June, for instance, U.S. government officials received AI-generated messages impersonating Senator Marco Rubio. Elsewhere, deepfake-related scams have led to financial losses exceeding $240 million for residents in Michigan within a single year. These alarming developments highlight the urgent need for cyberdefenses that focus on safeguarding individuals, rather than merely protecting digital infrastructure.

Adaptive Security’s technology reflects this shift by providing realistic phishing and impersonation simulations using AI-generated voice, video, and messaging deepfakes to test how well organisations withstand such attacks. Alongside these simulations, their platform delivers tailored security training based on each user’s risk profile, real-time detection and triage tools to respond quickly to impersonation attempts, and AI-driven risk scoring to allow security teams to focus their resources effectively.

Since an earlier $43 million funding round co-led by OpenAI and Andreessen Horowitz, Adaptive has rapidly expanded its platform capabilities. OpenAI’s support marks a significant milestone as it is reportedly their first investment in a cybersecurity firm. Ian Hathaway, a partner at the OpenAI Startup Fund, highlighted the platform’s speed and relevance in addressing modern threats. He also warned against the continued use of voiceprint authentication, which AI has effectively compromised, underlining the urgency for innovative security measures. CEO Brian Long articulated the company’s mission succinctly, stating that cybersecurity must begin with protecting people as AI becomes an invisible infrastructure woven into daily activities such as shopping, working, and communication.

The fresh injection of capital will be used to scale Adaptive’s platform further and continue developing tools that help organisations and individuals pre-empt evolving AI-enabled threats. This aligns with a broader trend in the cybersecurity industry where companies are increasingly adopting AI-based solutions to stay ahead of attackers leveraging similar technologies. For example, partnerships like Nasdaq Verafin and BioCatch’s integration of behavioural and transactional analytics signal a growing emphasis on defensive sophistication, while other startups, including MIND and Israeli firm Apex, are receiving funding to develop AI-driven data security and prevention tools.

Adaptive Security’s approach reflects a paradigm where the integrity of human trust itself is central to cybersecurity efforts, especially as AI-driven deception blurs the lines between genuine and fabricated communications. The challenge of protecting this trust is critical at a time when traditional methods of authentication are rapidly losing effectiveness, necessitating innovative solutions that anticipate and neutralise AI-powered fraud before it can cause harm.

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Source: Noah Wire Services