Ex-NSO Founder's New Firm Valued at $3 Billion, Focuses on AI Defense
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Shlomo Huliu, former CEO of NSO Group, has founded Dream, a company now valued at $3 billion, which provides governments with AI tools for data protection and utilization. Despite past controversies surrounding NSO's Pegasus spyware, Huliu sees his experience as a key advantage for Dream's mission to help nations build independent AI infrastructure. The company has developed AI-powered cybersecurity defense systems and an AI platform for governments, reportedly identifying the first fully autonomous cyberattack. Dream has secured deals with over a dozen countries, leveraging Huliu's established relationships with governments.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shlomo Huliu's new company, Dream, is valued at $3 billion and focuses on AI for government data protection.
- Dream aims to reduce government reliance on American tech giants by providing independent AI infrastructure.
- Huliu, formerly of NSO Group, views his past experience with surveillance tech as a significant asset.
- Dream's AI defense products have reportedly identified the first fully autonomous cyberattack against a government.
- The company has sold its solutions to over a dozen countries, emphasizing trust and security in government relations.
Shlomo Huliu, former co-founder and CEO of the controversial Israeli spyware firm NSO Group, has launched a new company, Dream, which is now valued at $3 billion. Dream focuses on providing governments with AI-powered tools for data protection and utilization, aiming to reduce their reliance on large American tech companies. Huliu, who left NSO in 2022, believes governments should develop their own AI infrastructure to maintain control over critical data and avoid risks associated with external providers.
Huliu, 45, does not express regret over his past at NSO, the maker of the Pegasus spyware, which faced international criticism for its alleged misuse. He views his experience selling surveillance technologies to governments as a significant advantage for his new venture, stating that NSO's products have helped governments prevent terrorist attacks and save lives. Dream's initial products, Sphere and Hero, offer national-scale cybersecurity defense and autonomous vulnerability patching using AI.
When Huliu first pitched his AI defense concept to American investors in December 2022, he recalled they were skeptical, thinking he was "crazy." He predicted that cyberattacks would become fully autonomous within five years, necessitating autonomous defense systems. In August, Dream researchers reportedly identified what they described as the first fully autonomous cyberattack against a government target, occurring three and a half years after Huliu's prediction.
Dream has expanded its offerings with Atlas, an AI platform launched in June that allows governments to develop and operate custom models on their own infrastructure, independent of external cloud providers. Unlike general-purpose models like ChatGPT, Dream's solutions are tailored to specific government tasks, such as analyzing classified intelligence or improving procurement processes, with the goal of reducing operational costs and enhancing precision.
Dream, with offices in Tel Aviv, Vienna, and Abu Dhabi, has grown to approximately 350 employees in three years. The company has sold its cybersecurity solutions to over a dozen countries, including eight in Europe, five in Asia, and two in the Middle East, with its sovereign AI product implemented in two nations. Huliu emphasizes that Dream's primary asset is not just its technology but also the trust and security built through long-standing relationships with decision-makers.