1 month ago
AI Agents Shift Focus to Permission
As AI agents become more involved in economic activities, the focus is shifting from how intelligent these agents are to what they are allowed to do.
This shift is significant because even the most advanced AI systems are useless without the right permissions.
The article discusses how digital infrastructure has traditionally been organized around identity, but with AI agents, the question is now about what actions they are permitted to take.
The article highlights the importance of permission systems, which are still underdeveloped, and the potential power shift towards those who control these permissions.
It also mentions the regulatory attention this issue is receiving and the potential future implications for the economy.
The focus in AI is shifting from intelligence to permission.
AI agents need the right credentials to perform actions, regardless of their intelligence.
Digital infrastructure has historically been organized around identity, but AI agents require a focus on permission.
Permission systems are still underdeveloped, with no reliable off switches in many cases.
Regulators are beginning to treat permission layers as systemically important.
- Who
- Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Vice-President at Morgan Stanley
- What
- The shift in focus from AI intelligence to permission in the agentic economy
- Where
- Global, with specific mention of EU regulations
- When
- July 28, 2026
- Why
- As AI agents become economic actors, the control of actions through permission becomes crucial
Proponents of Open Permission Systems
Advocates for Enclosed Permission Systems
Interoperability and Standards
Proponents of Open Permission Systems
Proponents argue for open, interoperable standards that commoditize the permission layer, making it a common resource rather than a controlled toll.
Advocates for Enclosed Permission Systems
Advocates for enclosed systems believe that control over permission layers ensures security, reliability, and the ability to enforce regulations.
Competition and Innovation
Proponents of Open Permission Systems
Open systems encourage competition and innovation by allowing multiple players to participate without being controlled by a single entity.
Advocates for Enclosed Permission Systems
Enclosed systems argue that competition can still thrive within a controlled framework, and that such control is necessary to prevent misuse and ensure stability.
Key facts
- Author
- Aditya Vikram Kashyap
- Publication Date
- July 28, 2026
- Key Concept
- Permission as the new focus in AI agent economics
- Historical Context
- Shift from ownership to identity to permission
- Current State
- Unfinished plumbing for permission systems
- Regulatory Attention
- EU's Digital Operational Resilience Act and Financial Stability Board's guardrails
- Future Implications
- Power shift towards those who control permission
Sources
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