Can we ever fully trust AI agents?

Autonomous AI agents represent a fundamental shift from passive chatbots to goal-oriented systems capable of interacting, negotiating, and acting within the world. Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University and AI expert, argues that while concerns regarding AI "swarms" taking over the internet are likely overstated due to the network's inherent resilience, the rapid development of these agents necessitates robust, global regulatory frameworks. Rather than relying on simplistic "kill switches," effective governance requires systematic testing of frontier models and the establishment of clear societal rules for agent interaction. Future AI applications will likely involve "artificial societies" where humans act as active partners, setting the rules and participating in complex problem-solving alongside autonomous agents, ensuring that human control remains central to the evolution of these technologies.