AI Agents’ Role in Recent Product Launches
AI agents have been a significant feature in some of the most intriguing recent product launches, but cybersecurity experts hold mixed opinions on this technology.
According to data from SailPoint, 96% of tech professionals view AI agents as an increasing security threat. However, nearly all respondents indicated they plan to expand their use of agentic AI in the coming year.
The top concerns voiced by respondents include the agents’ access to protected data, followed by the risk of unintended actions. The third-most reported concern was the possibility that an AI agent could share sensitive data without permission.
Data and Privacy
Similar challenges exist in generative AI platforms where models often reach inaccurate or false conclusions due to the persistent black box issue, making it difficult for analysts to determine why AI made a wrong decision.
Privacy remains a constant concern with AI models that require substantial data. Most well-established gen AI platforms like ChatGPT are built to protect sensitive data, but AI agents often need access to private information to perform their tasks, including financial details.
A concerning finding from the SailPoint study was that nearly 25% of respondents reported their AI agents had been manipulated into divulging access credentials.
Furthermore, 80% of respondents said they had discovered their companies’ AI agents performing unintended actions such as accessing systems without permission, disseminating protected data, and retrieving inappropriate content.
The Age of Agentic Commerce
In spite of these concerns, the age of agentic commerce is progressing. Visa and Mastercard have launched platforms designed to transform AI agents into personal shoppers, allowing them to search for items and make purchases with minimal user interaction.
PayPal soon followed by partnering with Perplexity to integrate its payments directly in the AI platform’s chat.
Considering the potent potential of AI agents, many more initiatives are expected across various industries, including cybersecurity. However, organizations must continuously prioritize privacy and security in these endeavors.
The SailPoint study also highlighted that 92% of respondents believe governing AI agents is crucial for enterprise security.