Agentic AI isn’t just smart; it’s autonomous, capable of making decisions and taking actions without waiting for human input.

That’s exciting, but it’s also a game-changer for risk. When machines start operating independently, the stakes rise: security gaps can turn into full-blown breaches, and unclear accountability can spiral into compliance nightmares.

In short, the same autonomy that drives game-changing innovation can also open the door to vulnerabilities we’ve never faced before.

But fear not! That doesn’t mean we’re inherently doomed. What it does mean is the industry’s old playbook for security and governance won’t cut it.

Static controls and reactive compliance models were built for systems that stayed in their lane… not for AI that learns, adapts, and acts on its own. To keep trust intact, we need layered defenses and governance that’s proactive, not just protective. Think: identity safeguards, real-time behavior monitoring, and transparent decision audits baked into every stage of the AI lifecycle.

Autonomy, uncertainty, and a connected ecosystem raise the baseline for trust

Agentic AI complicates risk management because agents can act dynamically, adapting their behavior to accomplish their desired goals. This uncertainty has security leaders analyzing new threats and creating guardrails to ensure they trust autonomous systems with business transactions. Across our conversations, one theme cuts across the board: the travel industry wants progress, but it wants it on a foundation that is resilient, auditable, and built for a deeply interconnected ecosystem.

Travel is uniquely exposed because it is both high-volume and highly connected. A single trip can touch airlines, agencies, hotels, ground transport, payment solutions, identity providers, and multiple third parties behind the scenes. Security teams are looking for leadership and partnership that acknowledges shared dependencies, shared risk, and shared responsibility.

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