An AI agent is a software-based ‘actor’ (entity) that uses an AI engine to take action. It can distinguish its environment, process data, and take actions on its own to achieve specific or singular goal. AI agents operate independently and can interact with users, systems, or other agents.
AI agents can act on behalf of users or systems to perform identity-related tasks, such as evaluating access requests, monitoring behavior, or enforcing security policies. They help reduce manual workload, improve accuracy, and respond in real time.
As organizations adopt AI across their security stack, understanding AI agents becomes critical. They function like intelligent assistants that help teams scale decisions, reduce risks, and maintain compliance—especially in dynamic, multi-cloud environments.