Wa’ed Ventures Extends Backing of AI Deepfake Detection Leader Resemble AI in Saudi Arabia
In a significant move to bolster digital security, Wa’ed Ventures, the $500 million venture capital fund under Saudi Aramco, has announced a strategic investment in Resemble AI. This California-based company specializes in AI voice generation and real-time multimodal deepfake detection.
Last December, Resemble AI closed a strategic round, raising $13 million from notable investors including Google’s AI Future Fund, Sony Innovation Fund, Javelin, and Ubiquity.
The Rise of AI-Generated Fraud
The investment reflects a growing concern over the sharp increase in AI-generated fraud worldwide. Saudi Arabia is proactively addressing these risks through robust regulatory frameworks, including the Anti-Cybercrime Law. This law criminalizes the dissemination of fake news or misinformation that threatens public peace, security, or national interest.
In 2024, global deepfake-related scams resulted in over $25 billion in losses, with projections suggesting damages could reach $40 billion by 2027.
Supporting Regional Expansion
Wa’ed Ventures’ investment aims to support Resemble AI’s expansion into the Middle East, equipping organizations across Saudi Arabia with secure, real-time AI detection technologies. These solutions are designed to align with regional data sovereignty and security requirements.
According to the CEO of Wa’ed Ventures, Anas Algahtani, “Our role goes beyond funding – we work closely with founders to help them scale technologies that can compete globally while being rooted in Saudi Arabia’s priorities.” As the Kingdom enhances AI governance, digital trust, and content authenticity regulations, technologies like Resemble AI’s deepfake detection solutions are crucial in promoting secure and ethical AI adoption across both public and private sectors.
The Urgency of AI Detection Capabilities
The Middle East is witnessing an unprecedented surge in AI-generated fraud, with deepfake incidents in Saudi Arabia alone rising by 600% last year. Zohaib Ahmed, CEO and Co-Founder of Resemble AI, stated that organizations across the Gulf require detection capabilities that can be deployed on their own infrastructure, providing the speed and accuracy needed to identify threats in real-time.
Wa’ed Ventures recognizes this urgency, and their support accelerates Resemble AI’s ability to deliver essential protection to the region.
Platform Capabilities
Resemble AI’s platform supports both cloud and on-premise deployment, allowing government, defense, and regulated organizations to analyze voice and audio content without transmitting sensitive data to external servers. This capability is a critical requirement within the region, ensuring data privacy and security.
