It’s no secret—generative AI has completely changed the cybercrime game. What once took hours of coordination can now be done in minutes with the help of convincing deepfakes, fake documentation, and AI-generated phishing messages. Picture getting a call from your CTO, only it’s not really them—it’s a voice clone crafted by a malicious actor. That’s not science fiction anymore.
Recognizing just how fast the threat landscape is evolving, OpenAI has thrown its weight behind a new ally: Adaptive Security, a New York-based cybersecurity startup. On Wednesday, the company announced a hefty $43 million Series A funding round, co-led by OpenAI’s startup fund and venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz. This marks OpenAI’s first official dive into cybersecurity investments.
So, what exactly does Adaptive Security do? In simple terms, they use AI to fight AI. Their platform creates hyper-realistic simulations of AI-driven cyberattacks—think spoofed emails, text messages, and even cloned voice calls—all designed to test and train employees to recognize and resist manipulation.
Imagine picking up the phone and hearing your boss urgently request a verification code. You feel the pressure and almost comply—but the voice isn’t real. It’s a simulation designed by Adaptive Security to teach employees how to pause, assess, and avoid falling for social engineering tricks.
These "ethical hacks" span across communication channels—from SMS to email—and are paired with detailed analytics that reveal which departments or roles are most vulnerable. This isn’t just about firewalls and antivirus software—it’s about equipping the human element of a company with the street smarts to recognize deception.
Social Engineering Scams: Low-Tech, High Impact
While deepfake tech is flashy, most of the costliest cyberattacks still rely on basic psychology. Social engineering, where attackers manipulate people into breaking security protocols, has led to some massive losses.
Take Axie Infinity, for example. Back in 2022, the popular blockchain gaming platform lost over $600 million—all because a developer fell for a phony job offer. That’s the kind of attack Adaptive Security is working to prevent.
According to CEO and co-founder Brian Long, AI tools have dramatically lowered the barrier to launching these scams. "Anyone with an internet connection can now generate fake resumes, spoofed emails, or even clone voices," Long told TechCrunch.
Long is no stranger to the startup world. Before Adaptive, he launched TapCommerce, a mobile ad platform snapped up by Twitter in 2014 for over $100 million. Later, he co-founded Attentive, which soared to a valuation north of $10 billion. With that kind of resume, it’s no wonder OpenAI saw potential.
Now, with over 100 paying clients and glowing reviews fueling its momentum, Adaptive Security plans to use its new capital to expand its engineering team and double down on product development.
“We’re in an arms race with bad actors,” Long said, emphasizing the need for constant innovation in this fast-moving field.
Cybersecurity Heats Up as AI Threats Grow
Adaptive isn’t the only player gaining traction. The AI-fueled cybersecurity boom is pulling in big money across the board:
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Cyberhaven recently landed $100 million at a $1 billion valuation, focusing on keeping sensitive data out of tools like ChatGPT.
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Snyk, a security platform for developers, has seen its revenue climb past $300 million—fueled in part by insecure AI-generated code.
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GetReal, a startup tackling deepfake detection, pulled in $17.5 million just last month.
Clearly, as AI becomes more sophisticated, so do the threats—and the companies rising to counter them.
Worried someone might clone your voice for a scam call? Long offers one surprisingly simple piece of advice: “Delete your voicemail.” That alone can reduce the risk of your voice being scraped and misused by bad actors.
With generative AI evolving at breakneck speed, the need for forward-thinking cybersecurity solutions has never been more urgent. Adaptive Security’s hands-on, realistic approach is turning heads—and drawing serious investment. As companies race to stay ahead of the curve, it’s clear that protecting your business isn’t just about strong passwords anymore—it’s about training your people to think like hackers and act smarter.