Aikido Buys Israeli Startup Root to Auto-Fix Open Source Security Flaws with AI
The Belgian cybersecurity unicorn is betting on AI agents that patch vulnerabilities in existing code without requiring upgrades, as supply chain attacks on open source accelerate
Illustration: Jakub Zerdzicki via Pexels.com
Belgian cybersecurity unicorn Aikido Security has acquired Root, an Israeli developer security startup to strengthen its push into AI-driven software security and supply chain protection.
The companies are building a system that uses AI agents to detect, patch and test vulnerabilities in open-source code automatically, without requiring developers to upgrade software versions or disrupt production systems.
Open-source dependencies are a major security risk in modern software, with attackers increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities in widely used packages. Many issues remain unpatched for years, and some are exploited before they are even publicly disclosed.
Aikido says the traditional approach, of upgrading to fixed versions or manually patching dependencies, is often impractical at scale. Instead, its combined platform focuses on applying targeted “backported” fixes directly to the versions companies already use.
“With Root, we fix what teams are actually running, generating hundreds of verified patches a day,” said Aikido CEO Willem Delbare.
Root, formerly Slim.AI, built automation tools for container and dependency security and is backed by investors including Insight Partners.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.