In this episode, Matt is joined by Charlie Bell, Microsoft's EVP of Security, Compliance, Identity, and Management, to discuss the future of AI and its implications on cybersecurity.

The conversation revolves around IDC's prediction of 1.3 billion AI agents by 2028, Charlie's insights from his recent writings 'Beware of Double Agents', and the crucial aspects of agentic Zero Trust.

They explore the benefits and risks associated with AI agents, the importance of security culture, and strategies to mitigate potential threats.

Charlie also shares his experiences working with Satya Nadella and the importance of collaboration and curiosity in leadership.

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Key Moments:

02:08 The Exponential Growth and Impact of AI Agents
03:47 AI Agents: Beyond Conversational Interfaces
05:48 Security Challenges in the Age of AI Agents
06:57 Parallels Between Cloud Adoption and AI Agent Era
09:19 Democratization of AI: From Developers to Everyone
13:57 The Concept of Double Agents in AI
16:07 New Attack Vectors and Security Concerns
21:43 Combating Security Challenges in AI
22:07 The Importance of Identity and Containment
23:50 Alignment and Intent in AI Systems
27:08 Observability and Accountability of AI Agents
30:00 AI in Security and Assumed Breach
33:17 Fostering a Culture of Security
38:45 Leadership Insights from Satya Nadella

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Key Links:

Mentioned in this episode:

Free report from HatchWorks AI — State of AI 2026

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Beware of Double Agents: Charlie Bell, Microsoft’s Security EVP on Securing AI

Talking AI