Reality Defender

About Reality Defender

Reality Defender is a cybersecurity company founded in 2021 that provides a deepfake and AI-generated media detection platform for enterprise, government, and institutional clients. The company originated as a non-profit research project before evolving to address the rising threat of real-time synthetic media. The founding team includes Ben Colman (CEO), Ali Shahriyari (CIO), and Gaurav Bharaj, who brought combined experience from companies like Google, Goldman Sachs, and the Intelligence Community. Colman, in particular, has a background in scaling companies at the intersection of cybersecurity and data science.

The company's core technology utilizes a patented, multi-model approach to detect AI manipulation across various media formats, including audio, video, images, and text. This ensemble of models allows the platform to provide real-time detection and risk scoring without relying on watermarks or prior authentication. The service is accessible through a web application and an API, enabling integration into existing workflows for use cases like call center security, secure video conferencing, and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. For example, it offers a Zoom plugin that analyzes participants' video and audio feeds in real-time to identify signs of synthetic manipulation. Reality Defender's business model is primarily subscription-based, offering different tiers based on usage and features to generate recurring revenue.

Reality Defender serves a diverse client base that includes financial institutions, government agencies, media organizations, and technology platforms. Notable clients and partners include Visa, Microsoft, NATO, and NBCUniversal. The firm has attracted significant investment from backers such as Illuminate Financial, Booz Allen Ventures, IBM Ventures, Accenture, and DCVC, securing a total of $33 million in its Series A funding round by October 2024. This funding is aimed at expanding its technological capabilities and increasing its presence in the financial sector to combat deepfake-related fraud.