Palo Alto Networks on Monday, April 28, announced its intention to acquire Protect AI, a startup specializing in securing artificial intelligence and machine learning apps.
There is currently no information about the value of the mentioned deal. This business agreement is expected to close by the first quarter of fiscal year 2026.
Anand Oswal, senior vice president and general manager of network security at Palo Alto Networks, said that this company, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, by expanding its artificial intelligence securing capabilities, including innovative solutions for corresponding purposes, will be able to develop AI apps with comprehensive security.
The mentioned firm constantly bolsters its digital intelligence systems. The company strives to have effective capabilities to confront increasingly sophisticated threats in cyberspace. The integration of technology from Protect AI will help Palo Alto Networks enhance its Prisma AIRS platform. The mentioned platform is designed to safeguard artificial intelligence apps from emerging threats such as model manipulation, prompt injection attacks, and data poisoning.
In the past year, the value of Palo Alto Networks’ shares showed an increase of 23%. Against this background, the company’s market capitalization has approached the $120 billion mark.
It is worth noting that against the background of the active development of artificial intelligence and the scaling of the practice of using AI, the issue of cybersecurity has become more relevant. Scammers also have access to machine intelligence tools. They use these tools extensively in their activities. Against this background, algorithms for committing fraudulent crimes in the virtual space have become more sophisticated. One of the ways to counter such threats in the digital environment is through personal user awareness. For example, an Internet search query such as how to know if my camera is hacked will allow anyone to get information about signs of unauthorized access to the device. At the same time, relevant knowledge should be updated periodically. This need is because fraudsters strive to use the most advanced technologies in their activities, which are constantly evolving and transforming. In the vast majority of cases, cybercriminals are aimed at stealing financial resources. They also often seek to compromise the victim. At the same time, the ultimate goal of these crimes is typically related to the theft of money.
Artificial intelligence is used by fraudsters, but it can also be a tool to counter criminal attacks. For example, AI can analyze large amounts of network traffic and detect anomalies that could be a sign of a cyberattack. Artificial intelligence systems are able to recognize unusual behaviors in virtual space, such as sudden increases in activity. AI can also collect and analyze data on cyber incidents, helping specialists identify the sources of attacks and their scale faster. Moreover, artificial intelligence systems have the ability to analyze emails and websites for phishing. In this case, signals such as suspicious links or false domains are implied. Besides, artificial intelligence can be used to simulate cyber attacks. Such an AI application scenario is necessary for testing cybersecurity systems and vulnerability detection. Another feature of artificial intelligence as a security tool in the digital environment is its ability to analyze already committed cyber attacks. In this case, AI can identify tendencies and predict new methods that could potentially be used by attackers. Moreover, artificial intelligence can detect new types of computer viruses and other malicious software. It is worth noting that AI is able to detect those threats that are still unknown to databases.
Cybercrime is becoming an increasingly sensitive factor from a financial point of view. Last week, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation published data showing that 2024, cybercrime of all kinds caused more than $16 billion in damage to victims worldwide in 2024.
