Agentic AI increases cybersecurity risks, warns CEO

Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora has raised concerns about the cybersecurity risks tied to agentic artificial intelligence. During an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, he explained that this technology opens new opportunities for cybercriminals. Arora used the example of Waymo, a self-driving taxi company, to illustrate how this advanced AI can act independently. He noted that allowing AI to control driving decisions, like turning and stopping, is an important development in the technology. However, it also means that hackers could exploit these systems. He emphasized that as technology continues to advance, so does the risk to security. The "attack surface" grows larger, making it easier for bad actors to target systems. Arora noted that agentic AI represents a new type of threat, especially when it begins managing critical infrastructure. He also mentioned his company's discussions with government agencies. Arora believes that automation can help improve efficiency, particularly for federal budget processes, and is essential for reducing costs in the future. He concluded that to successfully implement such technologies, strong security measures must be in place to protect against hacking.