ARMONK, N.Y., June 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it has joined the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program, bringing advanced frontier AI capabilities into security operations to help enterprises counter machine-speed threats. Building on the recently announced Project Lightwell, as part of this effort IBM has launched a new application security service that uses the cyber capabilities of OpenAI's models to help organizations identify and validate software vulnerabilities with greater speed, and precision.
Through this program, IBM is working with OpenAI to apply advanced AI capabilities to be deployed defensively inside enterprise workflows where they can help organizations understand and reduce their exposure.
The new application security service can go beyond traditional code scanning to identify and validate vulnerabilities using OpenAI cyber capabilities. AI-driven analysis assesses application code, and prioritizes areas with highest potential to contain flaws and exploitable paths. The security harness, powered by IBM Consulting Advantage – IBM's AI platform for delivering consulting services to clients – connects client application environments to advanced AI in a controlled, secured and governed way. Operating within the client's environment, with read-only access to code repositories and bounded execution, it enables large-scale exposure analysis.
Delivered as a managed, enterprise-ready service, clients can begin with focused evaluations of key applications and expand to continuous monitoring to reassess risk over time as code changes and new threats emerge.
Participation in the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program reflects IBM's ongoing role in shaping how frontier AI is deployed across enterprise workflows. Together with OpenAI and other partners, IBM is helping define standards for safeguards including for controlled analysis to help enterprises strengthen resilience.
Project Lightwell combines an enterprise security clearinghouse with a global force of engineers to patch, validate, and manage open source code across the software supply chain. Supported by a $5 billion commitment from IBM and Red Hat, the initiative will use OpenAI's cyber capabilities alongside other frontier AI models to help with code review and remediation.
"Attackers are already using AI to probe, exploit, and scale threats at machine speed. Defenders need the same advantage, with the security and control enterprises require," said Mark Hughes, Global Managing Partner, Cybersecurity Services, IBM Consulting. "The OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program expands our access to a broader set of advanced AI capabilities, which we deploy within our clients' environments to help surface the most relevant risks faster and help them act with confidence."
"Security is central to realizing the benefits of advanced AI," said Dane Stuckey, Chief Information Security Officer at OpenAI. "Through the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program, we are collaborating with AI pioneers like IBM to use frontier models to accelerate defensive security workflows and support enterprises, governments, and other organizations as they identify risks, strengthen resilience, improve security, and ultimately deploy AI with the trust, controls, and compliance their environments require."
The new application security service is available today, with further integrations planned as part of the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program.
Statements regarding IBM's and OpenAI's future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.
Media Contacts:
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IBM
elizabeth.brophy@ibm.com
Michele Brancati
IBM
mbrancati@ibm.com
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IBM and OpenAI Bring Frontier AI to Cyber Defense--Helping Enterprises Keep Pace with Machine-Speed Threats
SYDNEY, June 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- James Pinch, Managing Director of KuCoin in Australia, was invited to speak at Digital Economy Conference (DECON) 2026 in Sydney, joining Ashima Chaudhary, Vice President at Mastercard Australia, for a fireside chat titled "From Programmable Money to Everyday Commerce: Unlocking the Next Payment Era." Moderated by Yasmine Amani, Head of Account Management at Banking Circle, the session explored how fiat, cards, stablecoins and digital assets are converging through multi-rail infrastructure to support the next phase of global commerce.
Representing KuCoin, Pinch shared how exchanges are evolving beyond trading platforms into infrastructure providers connecting liquidity, payments, and stablecoins to real-world utility. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience in financial services and digital assets, he noted that KuCoin's approach in Australia reflects a broader global strategy: building responsibly within evolving regulatory frameworks while connecting KuCoin's global product suite with the licensing, compliance and operating standards required in each market.
Pinch noted that the launch of KuCard in Australia reflects the ongoing evolution of digital asset adoption. For eligible users, KuCard enables supported crypto assets to be used more seamlessly for everyday spending through Mastercard's global network, delivering a familiar payment experience while helping integrate digital assets into established consumer payment habits.
"Crypto does not succeed by remaining just an investment; it succeeds by morphing to also encompass other real world use cases like payment methods. Our role is to build an ecosystem where people talk about the technology less and simply use it for everyday life - like paying for coffee or bills - just as they do with a traditional bank card today," said Pinch.
The discussion also addressed trust, compliance, security and consumer protection as core requirements for mainstream adoption. Pinch emphasized that as digital assets become more embedded within the broader financial system, strong governance, regulatory engagement and resilient infrastructure will remain essential to building long-term trust. He also highlighted KuCoin's significant investment in highly skilled cybersecurity and infrastructure expertise, noting that protecting users and maintaining resilient systems must remain a top priority for major platforms, as it does for KuCoin.
Looking ahead, Pinch said artificial intelligence will be one of the key forces shaping the next stage of digital finance, particularly as commerce, payments and financial decision-making become increasingly automated. He pointed to KuCoin's ongoing investment in crypto-native AI initiatives, saying, "When we look at an e-commerce business now, anyone can buy a domain, anyone can set up a website, and they can find a supplier. Where we start to see this fall apart is when we look at the payment function of this automation. It is not possible or at least very difficult to automate around fiat banking for this purpose, as it incurs delays and a range of other challenges, this is where KuCoin plays a unique role in this adaptation of disruptive technology." Which is exactly what KuCoin has taken on, designing systems that support how users, developers and intelligent agents access market intelligence, on-chain information and crypto capabilities.
Pinch concluded that over the next three to five years, crypto payments may become less visible as a technology and more natural as a financial behaviour, with KuCard truly leading the way. "KuCard as a product, I think we talk about it less, right? If you think about just a typical card payment, no one talks about using the card and how they have a CBA card or how it's a Mastercard. They just pay for a coffee, they pay the bills, whatever it may be. And we might abbreviate it when it comes to crypto, but we'll stop talking about it, "said Pinch.
About KuCoin
Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform built on trust and security, serving over 40 million users across 200+ countries and regions. Known for its reliability and user-first approach, the platform combines advanced technology, deep liquidity, and strong security safeguards to deliver a seamless trading experience. KuCoin provides access to 1,500+ digital assets through a broad product suite and remains committed to building transparent, compliant, and user-centric digital asset infrastructure for the future of finance, backed by SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, and ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certifications. In recent years, KuCoin has built a strong global compliance foundation, marked by key milestones including AUSTRAC registration in Australia, a MiCA license in Europe, and regulatory progress in other markets.
Learn more:www.kucoin.com
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KuCoin Australia MD James Pinch at DECON 2026: Exchanges Are Becoming the Infrastructure Behind Everyday Commerce
