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Startups · Security1 min read

Investors are paying up for startups that fight AI-powered hackers

The Information's 2026 list of 50 promising startups adds a security category for the first time, as AI changes how companies get hacked.

By the Dashline deskSource: The Information
Investors are paying up for startups that fight AI-powered hackers
Photo: Pauli Rautakorpi, CC BY 2.0

Investors are paying up for startups that help companies defend against hackers who use artificial intelligence. That trend helped shape The Information 50, the outlet's annual list of the most promising startups, published for 2026.

What changed

For the first time, the list includes a category devoted only to security. The Information says AI is changing how companies get hacked, and that investors want defenders to stay ahead. The startups in this category promise to do that.

Who it affects

Any business that stores customer data, takes payments or runs on cloud software has a stake here. If attackers use AI, defenses may need to change too. More money flowing into security startups suggests more new tools will reach the market aimed at small and mid-sized companies as well as large ones.

What is not known yet

The material available does not name the startups in the security category. It does not say how much money they have raised, what their products do, or how well they work. Funding signals investor interest, not proof that a tool delivers. The full list and The Information's reporting would be the place to look for those details.

What to do

  • Ask your software and security providers how they guard against AI-driven attacks.
  • Expect to hear more pitches for AI-based security tools.
  • Ask for specifics, not slogans, before you buy.
The takeaway

Ask your security providers plainly how they defend against AI-driven attacks, and expect a wave of new tools to choose from.

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