ADT customers may eventually see artificial intelligence become a bigger part of their home security service. Thrive Holdings, a company with ties to OpenAI, acquired the security firm last month, setting the stage for a possible AI-focused overhaul.
Thrive Holdings is backed by OpenAI and spun off from Thrive Capital, the investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, a prominent venture capitalist and younger brother of Jared Kushner, who served as a senior adviser to President Trump.
The deal could eventually give Thrive Holdings and OpenAI access to customer data that might be used to develop or improve AI models. In return, ADT customers could get new AI-powered security features. Neither outcome, though, is set to happen immediately.
Joshua Kushner has argued that investors should look beyond short-term swings in enthusiasm about AI and focus on where the technology may lead. Thrive Holdings’ relationship with OpenAI reflects that approach: OpenAI has an ownership stake in the company, and has said its research, product and engineering teams will work within Thrive’s businesses to improve efficiency and services.
Kushner has also described the companies Thrive acquires as a way to bring together industry knowledge and real-world data, which could help improve AI models’ abilities. The partnership suggests that acquisitions such as ADT may serve, in part, as a route to developing AI tools and adding them to the companies’ products.
Thrive Holdings is set to pay $15.3 billion for ADT. The deal would take the home security company, founded in 1874, off the New York Stock Exchange and make it privately held. Thrive plans to purchase public shares for $10 each.
ADT has said its data and privacy policies will stay the same, and that it will not share additional customer data without permission. A Thrive Holdings co-founder likewise said the company is committed to protecting the information customers entrust to ADT.
For now, ADT customers do not need to take action, and their service is expected to continue under the existing policies. Still, it may be worth watching for future notices about AI features or changes to the company’s terms and privacy rules, especially if those changes affect how security data is used.
Customers who would rather not have AI integrated into their home security service may eventually want to consider another provider. For the moment, though, the stated privacy commitments remain in place.
