Big Tech Joins Forces With Startup Wiz to Form AI Safety Coalition

Key Takeaways

• Amazon, Google and Microsoft, are among the founding members of a new Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI).
• Alongside Big Tech players, smaller startups have also been included in the alliance.
• These include the cybersecurity startup Wiz, which may soon be acquired by Google for $23 billion.

In a rare show of unity, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI introduced  the Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI)  on Thursday, July 18. Other founding members include IBM, Intel, Nvidia Paypal and a handful of smaller startups.

The coming together of Big Tech AI rivals is noteworthy in a market more often characterized by competition than collaboration. So too is the presence of smaller AI labs and cybersecurity startups in an alliance where they sit alongside some of the biggest companies in the world.

Startups Meet Tech Giants in Coalition for Secure AI 

If there were ever a group of companies with the resources to address contemporary AI security concerns, CoSAI is it.

Between them, Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nvidia have a combined market capitalization of over $10 trillion. But they bring more to the table than financial heft. 

Through their respective cloud platforms, Amazon, Google and Microsoft control the global market for foundation models. This includes AI developed in-house by the big Tech firms. But also the hugely successful models built by the likes of Anthropic, Cohere and OpenAI, whose seats at the CoSAI table need no explanation. 

Meanwhile, Cisco, IBM, Intel and Nvidia are critical gatekeepers to the world’s AI infrastructure. Their role in the new alliance is rooted in their provision of the hardware and software that powers contemporary AI development and distribution. 

However, the presence of two smaller startups—Chainguard and Wiz—requires a little more unpacking.

Chainguard and Wiz Highlight AI Security Priorities

Founded in 2020 and 2021 respectively, Wiz and Chainguard have quickly made a name for themselves in AI-powered cybersecurity. They also have expertise that could help improve security across the AI industry.

Chainguard is focused on securing the software supply chain, providing tools and services to ensure the integrity and security of software from development to deployment.  Including the startup in CoSAI signals the alliance’s emphasis on end-to-end security in AI development and deployment.

Meanwhile, Wiz’s platform provides visibility into security threats across complex cloud environments. Its contribution to the new AI safety alliance reflects the dominant model of cloud-driven AI and signifies a strengthened focus on cloud security.

Alphabet in Wiz Takeover Talks

Google parent company Alphabet is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Wiz for $23 billion. If the deal goes through, it would be the Big Tech firm’s largest-ever acquisition.

Having broken records as one of the fastest-growing software startups, Wiz’s invitation to CoSAI and a potential takeover offer from Alphabet help cement the company’s reputation for innovation. 

In an industry where Amazon, Microsoft and Google provide the majority of the computational resources needed to train and run AI models, Wiz’s multi-provider security platform has a natural market fit. 

Regardless of whether the Google deal goes through, forging closer ties with the major hyperscalers can’t hurt the startup. Neither can building relationships with some of the world’s most important AI labs.