Israeli cyber security startup Apex, focused on securing the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, has announced that it received an undisclosed investment from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Apex secured a total of $7 million in seed funding, led by Sequoia Capital and Index Ventures, with participation from Altman and others. The company stated it was finalizing paid contracts after successful trials with several Fortune 500 companies and investment firms. The new funds will be used for product development, hiring, and marketing efforts.

With the rising demand for AI tools, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, that expedite tasks, users are increasingly looking for ways to safeguard their data and prevent security threats and inappropriate data infiltration.

“There’s a whole new landscape of threats and risks involving AI models,” Matan Derman, Apex’s CEO, told Reuters. “It encompasses data leakage and data-related issues. It extends to privacy, compliance, and what re-enters an organization.”

This, according to Derman, signifies a critical shift for the cybersecurity industry, which has traditionally focused on preventative measures and blocking unauthorized access.

“Our goal at Apex is to build the additional security layers required for enterprises to adopt AI,” he said. “We’re committed to maximizing our impact.”

Israel is said to be a powerhouse in the cybersecurity domain, boasting hundreds of startups.

Derman co-founded Apex ten months ago with Tomer Avni, a fellow officer in the elite 8200 intelligence unit of the Israeli military. The company has since operated in stealth mode, collaborating confidentially with select companies.

“Every board member, CEO, investor, and entrepreneur is discussing AI and how to leverage it,” Avni said. “Therefore, the need for security is more pressing than ever.”

Avni compared AI to prior major technological advancements like personal computers, networks, and the cloud, each necessitating enhanced security measures.

“AI is likely to surpass all these prior revolutions,” he said, “because AI is simply pervasive.”