Agents Are Not Software; They Are Authority
We need a mindset shift. An agent isn't a tool you use; it's an entity you empower. It is Delegated Authority packaged as code.
When you install Microsoft Word, you don’t worry that it will delete your bank account, insult your boss, or book a flight to Peru. It’s just software. It waits for you to type. It has no will. It has no scope.
When you deploy an Autonomous Agent, you are doing something fundamentally different. You are giving it Delegated Authority.
- “You have permission to read my emails.”
- “You have permission to book flights on my credit card.”
- “You have permission to negotiate this contract.”
- “You have permission to speak on behalf of the company.”
The Risk Profile
Software has bugs. Agents have consequences.
- If Word crashes, you lose a document. That’s annoying.
- If an Agent hallucinates, you might buy a non-refundable ticket to the wrong country. You might accidentally commit fraud. You might leak a trade secret.
The New Mindset
We need to treat agents less like “apps” and more like “interns” or “employees.”
- You don’t give an intern the keys to the safe on day one.
- You audit their work.
- You set limits ($500 spending cap without approval).
- You train them on your “voice” and “policy.”
This mindset—Agents as Delegated Authority—is critical. It changes how we build security, how we write policy, and how we trust.
It’s not about “Does the code run?” It’s about “Do I trust this thing to act in my name when I’m not watching?”
The ultimate test of an agent isn’t its IQ. It’s its integrity.
