Palo Alto Networks Executive Warns AI Agents Could Be 2026’s Major Insider Threat, Leaving Salesforce CEO Considering a Name Change

AI agents are becoming essential productivity tools, with major companies like Microsoft and Amazon highlighting their potential. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff even suggested renaming the company to “Agentforce,” reflecting a shift in customer interest from traditional cloud services to AI agents. In recent focus groups, Benioff noted that clients are more focused on AI capabilities than cloud discussions, stating that he has removed “cloud” from his keynote presentations. Contrarily, Wendi Whitmore, Chief Security Intel Officer at Palo Alto Networks, warned that AI agents could emerge as insider threats by 2026. She emphasized the pressure on security teams to quickly integrate new technologies, which may compromise security checks. Whitmore highlighted a recent “Anthropic attack,” where Chinese cyber spies utilized AI tools to infiltrate multiple high-profile organizations. Although she doesn’t foresee fully autonomous attacks soon, she believes AI will enable smaller teams to execute complex operations previously requiring larger groups.

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