AIR raises $50M to help companies vet the skills and add-ons AI agents use

AI security firm AIR has secured $50 million in funding to develop a platform that monitors the increasingly complex software supply chain surrounding AI agents. The company, founded by Yair Saban and Niv Hoffman, aims to help businesses vet and secure the skills, plugins, and other tools used by AI agents.

As AI agents are integrated into more aspects of company operations, the need for oversight of the tools and components they utilize becomes critical. AIR's platform continuously vets the tools and components that AI agents use, providing a marketplace of vetted add-ons and skills. The startup also offers a visibility product that detects agents operating within a company's environment, as well as employees using AI tools without proper authorization.

AIR's platform filters out around 27% of the online add-ons and skills it identifies. The company has onboarded more than 20 customers, including several large enterprises, and is seeing the most demand in heavily regulated industries such as financial services and pharmaceuticals. While competitors like Noma Security, Zenity, Astrix Security, and Operant AI offer similar services, AIR differentiates itself with its ability to continuously vet and verify the evolving ecosystem of skills and tools used by AI agents.

The new funding will primarily be used to hire researchers and expand AIR's presence in the U.S. and Europe. With a team of around 40 employees, AIR aims to establish itself as a leader in providing continuous security for AI agent operations. CEO Yair Saban believes that AIR's unique approach to continuous verification sets the company apart from competitors, who are focused primarily on scanning for potential threats.