Organizations are increasingly deploying AI agents to perform tasks that range from information retrieval and workflow automation to software development and cybersecurity operations. As these agentic systems become capable of taking autonomous actions, strong identity, authentication, and authorization, standards must be in place to manage risks of data exposure, unauthorized actions, compliance failures, and unpredictable autonomous behavior. 

To address these challenges NIST released a concept paper in February of 2026 titled "ACCELERATING THE ADOPTION OF SOFTWARE AND AI AGENT IDENTITY AND AUTHORIZATION." The paper received over 600 formal responses from across industry. This session will explore what NIST has learned from this feedback and how it has shaped a planned National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence project to demonstrate identification, authorization, and authentication of AI Agents.