Accenture has made a strategic funding in Actuality Defender, a cybersecurity firm specializing in deepfake detection, by its enterprise arm, Accenture Ventures.
Notably, Accenture has invested in Actuality Defender as a part of the startup’s $33 million series-A-extended spherical of funding, which is led by Illuminate Monetary, with participation from Accenture, Booz Allen Ventures, IBM Ventures, and the Jefferies Household Workplace.
Actuality Defender, which received the RSA Innovation award, affords options to detect and forestall deepfake fraud throughout varied industries, together with monetary providers, media, and high-tech.
The partnership goals to equip purchasers with the flexibility to quickly establish, detect, reply to, and forestall deepfake fraud, guaranteeing a safer digital panorama. Actuality Defender’s know-how contains real-time voice detection and audiovisual detection to catch even essentially the most superior AI-generated content material.
Based in 2021, by Ben Colman, Ali Shahriyari, and Gaurav Bharaj, and based mostly in New York, Actuality Defender offers options to detect and forestall deepfake fraud throughout varied industries, together with monetary providers, media, and high-tech. Ben Colman serves because the Co-Founder and CEO, Ali Shahriyari is the Co-Founder and CTO, and Gaurav Bharaj is the Co-Founder and Head of AI.
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| Actuality Defender Founders – Ben Colman, Ali Shahriyari, and Gaurav Bharaj |
Actuality Defender’s know-how contains real-time voice detection and audiovisual detection, which might establish even essentially the most superior AI-generated content material. Actuality Defender has not too long ago launched a software for real-time video deepfake detection, which is presently in non-public beta for choose purchasers.
The cybersecurity startup has acquired recognition for its modern options, together with profitable the RSA Innovation award and being named the Most Progressive Firm at RSA’s Innovation Sandbox competitors.
Accenture’s Cyber Intelligence researchers have documented a staggering 223% spike in deepfake-related software buying and selling on darkish internet boards within the first quarter of 2024, in comparison with the identical interval in 2023. This escalating problem requires instant consideration and schooling to cut back its potential damaging impacts.
Accenture intends to combine Actuality Defender’s capabilities into its present deepfake detection and safety providing, together with extending it to their name heart AI automation resolution.
“As deepfakes grow to be extra convincing and more durable to establish, organizations urgently want scalable and efficient detection options,” stated Paolo Dal Cin, world lead, Accenture Safety. “Actuality Defender affords a novel strategy to proactively detect AI-related threats throughout picture, audio, textual content and video. Our funding in Actuality Defender demonstrates our sturdy dedication to serving to purchasers confidently navigate the gen AI pushed menace panorama, mitigate monetary fraud and keep the integrity of their digital communications.”
Actuality Defender is the most recent firm to affix Accenture Ventures’ Challenge Highlight, an engagement and funding program centered on working with corporations that create or apply disruptive enterprise applied sciences.
Most not too long ago, the businesses which have acquired funding from Accenture Ventures below Challenge Highlight embody Martian, Earli Inc, and an AI startup Turbine whereas cybersecurity/ quantum safety corporations are – Aliro Quantum, Tenchi Safety, SpiderOak and Interos.