Adaptive Security, a cybersecurity company focused on preventing AI-based social engineering attacks, has announced a follow-on investment from the OpenAI Startup Fund, bringing its Series A total to $55 million. This makes Adaptive the only cybersecurity firm backed by OpenAI’s venture arm, underscoring the fund’s confidence in Adaptive’s human-centered approach to digital protection.
The funding comes at a time when AI-enabled threats are rapidly evolving. Recent incidents have shown how impersonation attacks—once theoretical—are now targeting high-profile individuals and everyday consumers. In June, U.S. officials received AI-generated messages impersonating Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while deepfake scams have cost Michigan residents over $240 million in just one year. These developments underscore the increasing need for proactive defenses that prioritize individuals, rather than just infrastructure.
Adaptive’s platform is built to address this shift. It offers realistic phishing simulations using voice, video, and messaging deepfakes to test organizational resilience. It also provides personalized security training tailored to each user’s risk profile, real-time triage tools to detect and contain impersonation attempts, and AI-driven risk scoring to help security teams prioritize their efforts.
The company’s approach is gaining traction among investors and industry leaders. Ian Hathaway of the OpenAI Startup Fund praised Adaptive’s product speed and relevance. At the same time, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently warned that traditional authentication methods like voiceprints are no longer reliable in the face of advanced AI impersonation.
How the funding will be used: With this new funding, Adaptive plans to scale its platform and continue developing tools that help institutions and individuals stay ahead of emerging threats. The company’s mission is to redefine cybersecurity for an era where trust itself is under attack.
KEY QUOTES:
“Cybersecurity now begins with people, not just infrastructure. As AI becomes invisible infrastructure – embedded in how we shop, work, write, and think – it also enables deceptive attacks. Without upgrading how we train and protect individuals, we risk heading into a world where trust itself becomes our greatest vulnerability.”
Brian Long, co‑founder and CEO of Adaptive Security
“Adaptive is moving with incredible product speed to build AI-native defenses for equally advanced threats. Their platform delivers exactly what modern security teams need — realistic deepfake simulations, AI-powered risk scoring, and training that resonates. We’re proud to back a team that’s reshaping how institutions stay resilient in the age of AI.”
“A thing that terrifies me is apparently there are still some financial institutions that will accept the voiceprint as authentication … That is a crazy thing to still be doing. AI has fully defeated most of the ways that people authenticate currently other than passwords.”
Ian Hathaway, partner at the OpenAI Startup Fund
