OpenAI Partners with Cathedral Systems to Strengthen AI Security and Fix Vulnerabilities Faster

OpenAI has partnered with cybersecurity startup Cathedral Systems for a new security sprint, while increasing bug bounty rewards to $172,000 to identify and fix critical vulnerabilities.

OpenAI Partners with Cathedral Systems to Strengthen AI Security

As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, cybersecurity threats are also growing in complexity. AI-powered tools are increasingly capable of identifying software vulnerabilities, creating new challenges for technology companies seeking to protect their systems and user data.

In response, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is stepping up its security efforts through a new internal initiative. The company has partnered with cybersecurity startup Cathedral Systems to identify weaknesses in its infrastructure and improve its digital defences.

OpenAI is also increasing rewards under its bug bounty programme, offering up to $172,000 for exceptional discoveries involving critical security vulnerabilities.

OpenAI Joins Hands with Cathedral Systems for Security Sprint

OpenAI has announced that its upcoming internal security sprint will be conducted in collaboration with Cathedral Systems. The initiative aims to strengthen the company's security infrastructure by using artificial intelligence to identify potential weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them.

The partnership reflects OpenAI's growing focus on AI-assisted security testing. By combining the capabilities of its AI models with the expertise of cybersecurity researchers, the company intends to examine its systems more thoroughly and address vulnerabilities more efficiently.

Cathedral Systems is a relatively new cybersecurity startup founded by former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers. The company recently attracted attention after its AI agents reportedly identified security weaknesses in third-party business systems associated with rival AI company Anthropic in less than 12 hours.

OpenAI hopes to use Cathedral Systems' expertise to uncover vulnerabilities across its own systems and strengthen its protection against potential cyberattacks.

OpenAI Raises Bug Bounty Rewards to $172,000

Alongside the partnership, OpenAI has announced a significant increase in its bug bounty rewards to encourage independent cybersecurity researchers and ethical hackers to identify software vulnerabilities.

Under the updated programme, researchers who make exceptional discoveries can receive payments of up to $172,000, including bonuses. This represents an increase of more than four times the previous maximum reward for critical findings.

Bug bounty programmes allow organisations to work with external security experts who investigate their software and report weaknesses responsibly. These findings help companies address security gaps before attackers can take advantage of them.

By increasing the financial incentives, OpenAI aims to attract more experienced researchers and encourage the discovery of serious vulnerabilities.

What Happened During OpenAI's Previous Security Sprint?

OpenAI's latest initiative builds on an earlier security sprint in which the company dedicated 25 per cent of its product engineers to identifying and resolving security issues.

During that exercise, engineers used the company's Codex tool to investigate reported vulnerabilities, reproduce them in controlled testing environments and develop software patches.

The process helped the company examine potential security weaknesses and work towards fixing them systematically.

OpenAI has emphasised that security testing is not a one-time activity. Instead, it is an ongoing process that requires regular assessments, improvements and collaboration with internal and external experts.

OpenAI Highlights the Importance of AI-Powered Cybersecurity

In an update shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, OpenAI highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity.

The company noted that as AI models become increasingly capable of discovering vulnerabilities, defenders must also use these technologies to identify and fix security problems before attackers can exploit them.

The collaboration with Cathedral Systems will allow external researchers to use OpenAI's models alongside internal security teams to test the company's existing defences.

This approach is expected to bring together AI-powered analysis and human cybersecurity expertise, helping researchers discover weaknesses and develop solutions more efficiently.

Why OpenAI Is Strengthening Its Security Measures

The rapid development of AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape. More capable AI systems can help security professionals examine software, identify weaknesses and investigate potential threats. However, similar capabilities could also be misused by cybercriminals.

For AI companies such as OpenAI, protecting internal infrastructure, sensitive information and user systems has become increasingly important.

The partnership with Cathedral Systems, combined with higher bug bounty rewards, represents an effort to strengthen security through continuous testing and responsible vulnerability reporting.

As AI technology advances, OpenAI's latest initiative highlights why cybersecurity measures must evolve alongside the systems they are designed to protect.

Conclusion

OpenAI's partnership with Cathedral Systems and its increased bug bounty rewards demonstrate a stronger focus on proactive cybersecurity. By combining AI-powered testing with expert research, the company aims to identify vulnerabilities earlier and make its systems more resilient against emerging threats.