OpenAI Deepens Commitment to Adaptive Security, Raising Series A to $55M

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2025 — Adaptive Security today announced a follow-on investment from the OpenAI Startup Fund, bringing its Series A total to $55 million. Adaptive remains the fund’s only cybersecurity investment, a signal of its conviction in the company’s human-centered approach to defending against AI-enabled threats.

“Cybersecurity now begins with people, not just infrastructure,” said Brian Long, co-founder and CEO of Adaptive Security. “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.”

The Stakes

AI threats are evolving fast. In June, U.S. officials received AI-generated messages impersonating Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a State Department advisory. That same month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned that AI-driven impersonation could trigger a “fraud crisis” arriving “very, very soon.”

The problem extends beyond governments. A fake video on X promoted a 100 million XRP rewards program, forcing Ripple’s CTO to clarify it was a scam. In Michigan, the FBI reported more than $240 million in losses tied to AI voice-cloning and deepfake scams in 2024.

Institutions remain the front line — and how they respond will shape risk for everyone.

Adaptive’s Approach

Adaptive’s platform is designed to train people and organizations against the threats most likely to hit them. It includes:

• AI-powered phishing simulations that replicate deepfake voice, video, and messaging attacks
• Personalized security awareness training tailored to each employee’s risk profile
• Real-time triage and reporting to speed up detection and containment
• AI-driven risk scoring to help leaders focus resources on weak points

Investor Perspective

“Adaptive is moving with incredible product speed to build AI-native defenses for equally advanced threats,” said Ian Hathaway, partner at the OpenAI Startup Fund. “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.”

Hathaway’s view is reinforced by Sam Altman, who warned at the Federal Reserve in July that traditional safeguards are breaking down:

“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.”

With OpenAI’s continued support, Adaptive is defining how people and organizations defend against AI-enabled fraud.