Belgian cybersecurity firm Aikido launches open-weight AI model for local security tools

Belgian cybersecurity firm Aikido has released an open-weight AI model, Altar, designed for cybersecurity applications. The model allows companies to deploy defensive AI tools locally without sending sensitive code to external providers, meeting rising demand amid growing use of AI by criminals.

Sept 21 — Belgian cybersecurity firm Aikido on Monday released an open-weight artificial intelligence model designed for cybersecurity applications, seeking to help companies use AI security tools without sending sensitive code to external providers.

Rising concern over criminals using AI to identify and exploit software vulnerabilities has fuelled demand for defensive AI tools that can be run locally.

The model, named Altar, is a compressed and customised version of Z.AI's open model GLM-5.3 and will be available openly for local deployments, the company said. The model will be deployed in Aikido solutions delivered to customers such as Belgian bank Belfius.

Aikido, one of Europe's leading cybersecurity firms, reached a US$1 billion (€871.31 million) valuation in January.