Bad actors are increasingly using AI to exploit software vulnerabilities at lightning speed. To counter this, companies like Exaforce are harnessing AI themselves to detect and thwart cyberattacks as they happen.

The startup, valued at $725 million after raising a $125 million Series B, uses 'Exabots'—AI agents with deep data analysis—to automate security operations. This reduces manual tasks by up to 90%, drastically cutting down on the hundreds of false alerts faced by human analysts.

Recently introduced 'vibe hunting' allows security teams to query Exaforce's AI platform with natural language, investigating potential attacks based on hunches. The startup has seen a rise in customers due to high-profile cyberattacks, and aims to reach 40-50 new ones by the end of the year.

While Exaforce is not alone in applying AI to cybersecurity, its approach stands out for its simplicity: 'Apply AI to catch and stop threats as they happen,' says CEO Ankur Singla. However, the real challenge lies in distinguishing between real alerts and false positives—akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

The battle against cybercriminals is escalating, and with Exaforce at the forefront, the future of cybersecurity looks increasingly automated but no less complex.