Kelleher: Autonomous action distinguishes AI agents from LLMs and brings security risks
Eric Kelleher · AI Agents: Hype or Hope · Oct 29, 2025 · at 5:43
Eric Kelleher, President and COO of Okta, explains why AI agents differ from large language models and the security challenges of giving them access to production systems.
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“I think when we talk about the distinction between an artificial intelligence, the distinction between a large language model and an agent, I think the ability to take action is a very specific capability of an agent, and it's really the ability to take autonomous action, which people are concerned about, and it's something that is very, very powerful, and the capabilities that this technology brings to individuals and corporations Is fantastically interesting, and it comes fraught with risk that needs to be appropriately managed to ensure that when agents are given access to production systems and production data, that they can be managed securely.”
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