Cybersecurity firm Rubrik has signed a deal to acquire AI platform Predibase, aiming to help more companies deploy AI successfully. The move comes as businesses struggle to move AI pilots into full-scale operations. Predibase, founded by former Google and Uber engineers, focuses on optimizing open-source models for real-world use. Rubrik plans to integrate this technology into its cyber resilience platform.
The deal follows a wave of AI-driven transformation and mounting pressure on enterprises to extract real value from data. A recent Gartner report says most AI projects still take eight months to move from testing to launch. With around 85% of data science projects failing to reach production, companies are eager for solutions that help bridge the gap. Rubrik’s acquisition is expected to close soon, though financial terms were not disclosed. The company aims to offer customers more than just data protection; it wants to help them turn data into action.
Predibase Tackles the AI Bottleneck With Deployment-Focused Tools
Predibase offers a platform that fine-tunes open-source AI models to make them faster, cheaper, and easier to manage at scale. Instead of building models from scratch, it allows teams to adapt existing ones, saving time, money, and technical effort. This approach directly addresses a common hurdle in AI development: the so-called “proof of concept wall.” Many projects show promise but never reach deployment due to infrastructure costs and skill gaps.
According to IDC, one in four companies reports failure rates of up to 50% for AI efforts. A key factor is the complexity of model optimization and deployment. Predibase claims to cut infrastructure costs by up to 80%, helping teams bring models online faster. “AI has huge potential, but most companies aren’t seeing returns,” said a Predibase engineer involved in product development. “We’re focused on making AI work in the real world, not just in test environments.”
AI Failures Cost Billions and Create Demand for Tools Like This
Industry research from VentureBeat and IDC shows a bleak picture: most AI projects stall or fail before reaching users. These failures often cost companies millions in wasted effort, delaying innovation and frustrating teams. Predibase addresses two major pain points: high technical complexity and the lack of skilled AI engineers. By building on open-source foundations it reduces the need for deep machine learning expertise. The acquisition also aligns with Rubrik’s shift toward smarter data management.
By adding AI optimization capabilities, Rubrik hopes to help customers protect their data and use it more intelligently. Competitors like Cohesity, Commvault, and Dell are also expanding their AI offerings. In fact, Cohesity’s recent $1.7 billion merger with Veritas shows how hot this space has become. Rubrik’s move signals that it plans to stay ahead by blending cybersecurity with actionable AI tools. As AI becomes central to business strategy, having tools that turn ideas into impact is becoming a key differentiator.
Rubrik Eyes the Future With AI-Powered Data Resilience
This acquisition shows how the cybersecurity market is shifting. It’s no longer just about backing up files or stopping threats. Companies now want tools that help them do more with their data. By integrating Predibase’s AI optimization technology, Rubrik strengthens its position in the growing market for intelligent data protection.
Analysts suggest this could help Rubrik compete more aggressively with larger rivals in cloud data and AI services. More importantly, it supports a broader industry trend: moving beyond data storage toward unified platforms that protect, manage, and activate data at once. As more companies struggle to get AI out of the lab and into action, deals like this may become the new normal.
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