Beyond the Machine: Ultra Deep Tech’s Quest to Secure AI Trust for a New Era
- Ethan Babil
- Oct 28, 2024
- 9 min read
Ultra Deep Tech is all about breakthrough technologies that tackle the toughest challenges in fields like AI, cybersecurity, and biotech. Going beyond today’s cutting-edge to shape the future.
The Front Porch
In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, most of us use AI daily without fully grasping its inner workings. For enthusiasts and experts alike, it's critical to understand that as beneficial as AI models are, they present potential risks. Companies that can detect flaws in these systems have the potential to prevent major disruptions, as we’ve seen with recent incidents like Microsoft's AI software being manipulated. Enter Ultra Deep Tech, a pioneering company focused on securing AI systems in a world where trust isn’t just a human trait anymore.
Founded just over a year ago by Avi Pilcer, a 15-year veteran in AI development, and Guido Galicer, a marketing strategist with entrepreneurial experience, Ultra Deep Tech aims to build trust in increasingly autonomous AI systems. "Our mission is to secure AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) and lay the groundwork for Trust 2.0," Pilcer explains. "We are the pioneers in this industry, and our products today secure the AI systems of tomorrow.”
The inspiration behind Ultra Deep Tech emerged from Avi’s background in AI, which began with neural networks in 2010, long before AI became mainstream. As a self-taught expert in this field, Pilcer always believed in staying ahead of the curve. This futuristic mindset led him to form the company’s core product, Safety Shield Ultra 1.0, a comprehensive AI safety net that tracks key safety indicators like hallucinations, user behavior, and real-time threats.
As Avi shares, "We are not just thinking short-term. We know AI systems will become more human-like, and in the near future, AIs will interact with other AIs on behalf of humans. Securing these systems isn't just a challenge—it's a necessity.” The company’s vision stretches far beyond traditional cybersecurity, venturing into the realm of securing AI trust networks.
For Avi and Guido, the legacy they want to leave goes beyond just business success. Avi reflects, "I want to leave behind a world where trust isn’t just a human concept, but one embedded in the very fabric of AI systems. We’re just getting started.”
In a world where the boundaries between human and AI systems are increasingly blurred, Ultra Deep Tech is leading the charge to ensure these systems can be trusted. The future of cybersecurity is about securing trust itself—and Ultra Deep Tech is building the foundation.
Lawn Work
Short-term Goals:
Pilot Expansion: Ultra Deep Tech is focused on expanding its current proof-of-concept (PoC) trials with three major clients, including two banks in Argentina, by the end of Q1 2024. This will showcase the scalability of the Safety Shield Ultra 1.0 platform in real-world banking environments.
Seed Fundraising: The company aims to complete its seed fundraising round in early 2024 to secure $1.5 million. These funds will be used for product development, market expansion, and scaling the sales development team.
Sales Growth: Ultra Deep Tech is building a dedicated sales team targeting industries such as finance and healthcare. The goal is to expand their client base and onboard five new clients by mid-2024, with an initial focus on the Latin American market.
AI Trust Metrics: The ongoing enhancement of Safety Shield Ultra 1.0 will integrate more real-time AI threat detection capabilities, improving its ability to monitor hallucinations, malicious prompts, and other vulnerabilities in generative AI models.
Long-term Vision:
Growth Strategy: Ultra Deep Tech aims to achieve $5 million in revenue by 2026, leveraging strategic partnerships and responding to the rising demand for AI security solutions. By 2027, the company projects revenues of $75 million, driven by its leadership in securing AGI systems and expanding globally.
Revolutionizing Cybersecurity: The company envisions becoming the global leader in securing AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) systems, addressing critical issues like data leaks, AI hallucinations, and vulnerabilities in multi-agent systems. CEO Avi Pilcer notes, "We are building the trust network for AI-human interaction, where machines will be as intelligent as humans."
Ethical AI: Ethical considerations are central to Ultra Deep Tech’s mission. As AI systems grow more autonomous and human-like, the company is committed to developing security solutions that maintain transparency, fairness, and accountability. Pilcer emphasizes, “Our focus is not just on security, but also on ensuring that AI systems operate in ways that are responsible and ethical.” This includes ensuring that AI-generated content remains unbiased and that the systems are designed to be trustworthy by nature.
Exit Strategy: Ultra Deep Tech is focused on long-term growth, but potential exit strategies include acquisition by a leading cybersecurity firm or AI tech company, or an IPO once the market demand for AI security products fully matures in the next 3-5 years.
Global Expansion: Ultra Deep Tech plans to expand into U.S., Europe, and Asia by 2026, tapping into the global AI market projected to surpass $1 trillion. The company aims to position itself as the leading solution for securing AI trust and safety on a global scale.
Ethical Considerations:
Regulatory Alignment: Ultra Deep Tech acknowledges the rapidly evolving regulatory environment surrounding AI. The company is committed to adhering to global ethical standards and collaborating with regulatory bodies to shape frameworks for AI security and accountability. As Guido Galicer, the company’s CMO, points out, “We see ourselves as partners in crafting ethical AI policies that protect both individuals and organizations.”
Transparency in AI Systems: The company is developing tools that ensure AI systems remain transparent, especially in decision-making processes. This includes safeguards against AI bias, ensuring that AI models do not reinforce harmful stereotypes or make unfair decisions.
Social Responsibility: Ultra Deep Tech is conscious of the societal impacts of AI. By focusing on ethical AI design, the company aims to build trust in AI systems and reduce fears about AI misuse or unintended consequences. The vision is to secure AI systems that are not only technologically advanced but also socially responsible, contributing to a safer and more equitable future for all users.
103st Strategic Metrics
Backroad Breakdown - Risk Analysis
I encourage you to look into how we came to these numbers: Click Here
Top of the Block - Front of Mind Risks
Market Readiness for AI Security: Ultra Deep Tech operates in a nascent field, where potential clients may not yet fully recognize the value or necessity of advanced AI security solutions. This could slow customer adoption and affect revenue growth in the early stages.
High R&D and Adaptation Costs: Given the rapid pace of AI and cybersecurity advancements, Ultra Deep Tech faces constant pressure to innovate and adapt its solutions. Maintaining a competitive edge will require sustained investment in R&D, which could strain cash flow without sufficient funding.
Dependence on Key Partnerships: Ultra Deep Tech’s early successes hinge on partnerships, such as those with Argentinian banks, to establish credibility and market fit. Any loss or delay in these partnerships could disrupt revenue projections and slow the path to scalability.
Scalability of Security Solutions: As Ultra Deep Tech expands into larger and more varied markets, its AI security solutions will need to scale effectively. Ensuring their tools are adaptable across diverse systems and industries may pose operational and development challenges.
Data Privacy and Ethical Concerns: Operating in AI and cybersecurity raises complex ethical considerations around data use, privacy, and the ethical deployment of advanced AI. Missteps in handling these issues could harm the company’s reputation and limit long-term growth potential.
IPO and M&A %
IPO: 50%
M&A: 65%
I encourage you to look into how we came to these numbers: Click Here
Market Share Scorecard: Metta Green vs. Competitors
Emerging Player: Ultra Deep Tech can gain market share by focusing on generative AI security, tackling issues like AI hallucinations and adversarial prompts. Unlike established players, which focus on broader endpoint and network security, Ultra Deep Tech specializes in protecting advanced AI interactions. This niche appeals especially to industries like finance and healthcare, where next-gen AI security and compliance are critical. As demand for specialized AI security grows, Ultra Deep Tech’s unique approach positions it to capture clients that traditional cybersecurity firms may miss.
CrowdStrike: CrowdStrike leads in endpoint security and managed detection and response, holding approximately 12-15% of the AI cybersecurity market. This share is bolstered by its advanced threat detection and AI capabilities, appealing primarily to large enterprises(Comparitech)(MarketsandMarkets).
Palo Alto Networks: Covering significant portions of network and cloud security through products like Prisma Cloud and Cortex XSIAM, Palo Alto Networks commands around 10-12% of the market. Its comprehensive offerings across network and endpoint security allow it to capture a broad client base, especially in North America and finance sectors(GlobeNewswire)(Emergen Research).
Darktrace: Known for its AI-native approach and autonomous response systems, Darktrace holds about 8-10% of the market. Its strong European presence and applications in high-regulation industries, such as healthcare and finance, contribute to this share(MarketsandMarkets)(Emergen Research).
Microsoft and IBM: These established tech giants hold a combined 12-15% market share, with Microsoft dominating in cloud-based security (via Azure Sentinel) and IBM in threat intelligence and incident management (with QRadar). Their shares are largely concentrated in enterprise and government sectors, especially in North America(Deloitte United States)(GlobeNewswire).
Remaining Market: The rest of the market, about 48-58%, is held by other players, including Fortinet, SentinelOne, Zscaler, AWS, and numerous emerging firms that focus on niche areas such as generative AI security or compliance automation(Dimension Market Research) (MarketsandMarkets).
Next Door Neighbors
Wiz
Funding Event: Series E Funding, raising $1 billion
Date: May 2024
Valuation: $12 billion
Details: Wiz, a cloud security innovator, completed a significant Series E round led by major investors, enabling it to pursue aggressive acquisition strategies and expansion. Wiz has been actively acquiring startups, including a notable $350 million acquisition of threat detection firm Gem Security.
Cisco
Acquisition Target: Robust Intelligence
Date: August 27, 2024
Details: Cisco announced the acquisition of Robust Intelligence, an AI-focused security firm specializing in vulnerability testing for AI applications. This acquisition enhances Cisco’s ability to secure AI models by integrating Robust Intelligence’s validation and protection capabilities into Cisco’s Security Cloud.
Deeper Insights AI Ltd.
Intent to Acquire: October 3, 2024
Details: Cisco announced plans to acquire Deeper Insights, a UK-based AI services firm specializing in AI solutions for enterprise applications. Deeper Insights’ expertise in AI-driven design and implementation will strengthen Cisco’s Customer Experience (CX) AI capabilities. This acquisition is set to expand Cisco’s technology footprint and add engineering talent, enhancing Cisco’s capacity to deliver innovative AI services.
Hiya
Acquisition Target: Loccus.ai
Date: July 2024
Details: Hiya, known for its voice security services, acquired Loccus.ai, a deepfake detection company. This acquisition enhances Hiya’s fraud prevention suite, particularly in combating deepfake voice threats—a key capability for emerging AI-driven security challenges.
Protect AI
Acquisition Target: SydeLabs
Date: July 2024
Details: Protect AI expanded its capabilities in automated threat simulation by acquiring SydeLabs, specializing in "red teaming" for generative AI systems. This acquisition bolsters Protect AI’s solutions in testing and securing large language models and other generative AI technologies.
Rapid7
Acquisition Target: Noetic Cyber
Date: July 2024
Details: Rapid7 acquired Noetic Cyber to strengthen its cyber asset attack surface management (CAASM) solutions. This acquisition adds new visibility capabilities to Rapid7’s cybersecurity suite, supporting advanced risk management for enterprise clients.
Anthropic
IPO Status: Preparing for IPO
Expected Timeline: Q4 2024
Details: Anthropic, an AI safety company focused on creating interpretable AI systems, is gearing up for its IPO. The company plans to allocate IPO funds towards expanding its research on safe AI implementations, a growing concern in the deep tech and cybersecurity sectors.
The Block
Founded: Sep 12, 2023
2023 Rev: $100,000
YOY Targeted: 70%
Self Funded: $NA
Final Thoughts
Much like how the early pioneers of the tech world fought to establish themselves in unfamiliar territory, Ultra Deep Tech is venturing into the largely uncharted domain of AI security. As I evaluate the company’s potential, it’s clear that they’re not just securing systems, they’re securing the future of trust in AI. Ultra Deep Tech’s founders, Avi and Guido, have laid a strong foundation with Safety Shield Ultra 1.0, a technology not only critical for today’s AI applications but also for the hyper-intelligent systems we’ll rely on tomorrow.
Their mission may feel ahead of its time, but history shows that staying ahead of the curve is exactly what drives meaningful, lasting change. Ultra Deep Tech is on the precipice of something transformative, and the challenges they’re tackling are the very issues that will define the next era of cybersecurity. In a world where human trust will soon extend to machines, Ultra Deep Tech is building the architecture that will make that trust possible.
Opportunity
Ultra Deep Tech is pursuing Sales and Funding to accelerate growth and market reach:
Sales Expansion: Ultra Deep Tech aims to secure key partnerships, especially with organizations needing advanced AI security, to expand its footprint in sectors like finance and healthcare. These collaborations will drive sales and help deploy its generative AI security solutions against emerging threats.
Growth Funding: To scale operations and achieve revenue goals, Ultra Deep Tech seeks capital for technology development and team expansion. Ideal investors will align with the mission to secure next-gen AI systems, enabling sustained growth through increased R&D and enhanced market penetration.
Contact Avi Pilcer or Guido Galicer
Check out Ultra Deep Tech
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