OpenAI Partners with Cathedral Systems to Strengthen AI Security Through External Testing

OpenAI Expands Security Initiative with Cathedral Systems Partnership

OpenAI is launching a new security initiative by partnering with Cathedral Systems to strengthen its AI security defenses through external security researchers. 1

1

The collaboration will bring Cathedral's researchers into OpenAI's next internal security sprint, where they will work alongside the company's teams to test systems and identify and address vulnerabilities across its platforms. This security testing initiative builds on an earlier sprint that involved 25 percent of OpenAI's product engineers. 2

2

AI-Driven Security Testing Takes Center Stage

Cathedral's researchers will use OpenAI's AI models to challenge the company's defenses and test potential fixes. 2

2

Gavin Kliger, Cathedral's CEO and co-founder, emphasized the importance of this approach: "OpenAI is setting an important example by partnering with outside security firms and using its own models to continuously test and strengthen its defenses." 1

1

The collaboration aims to bring different expertise and approaches to vulnerability detection that might otherwise go unnoticed through internal testing alone.

During the previous internal sprint, engineers used Codex to investigate findings, reproduce vulnerabilities in isolated environments, and prepare patches for review. 1

1

This AI-driven security testing methodology represents a shift toward using artificial intelligence continuously to find and fix weaknesses before attackers can exploit them. OpenAI stated that traditional cyber defenses alone are no longer sufficient, pointing to recent industry incidents as evidence of how quickly threats can emerge. 1

1

Bug Bounty Program Rewards Surge to $172,000

OpenAI is significantly increasing its Security Bug Bounty program rewards, with exceptional critical security findings now eligible for up to $172,000, including bonuses. 1

1

This represents more than a four-fold increase from previous reward levels. 2

2

The company wants researchers to challenge its assumptions and strengthen both its systems and the methods used to defend them through this enhanced Bug Bounty program.

$1 Billion Commitment for Frontline Defenders

Beyond its internal cybersecurity efforts, OpenAI committed $1 billion in subsidized AI access over six months for frontline defenders protecting essential services and digital infrastructure. 1

1

These Daybreak customers will receive access to OpenAI's most capable models to help organizations use AI in their cybersecurity work. 2

2

This investment signals OpenAI's recognition that defensive loops must extend beyond its own systems to protect broader digital infrastructure.

Knowledge Sharing and Industry Blueprint

OpenAI plans to share its architecture and lessons from its previous sprint, along with security blueprints for empowering cyber defenders across industry and government. 1

1

The company will publish details about how the exercise was organized and the tools and processes involved, creating a guide for other companies and government agencies looking to improve their cybersecurity through AI. 2

2

This approach to transparency aims to help other organizations build their own continuous defensive loops for remediation.

While OpenAI has not specified when the next sprint will begin, the announcement describes a planned collaboration rather than completed findings. 1

1

As AI becomes better at finding vulnerabilities, OpenAI stated it would keep advancing its models and applying them to its own defenses while expanding access for trusted defenders.