Agentic artificial intelligence (AI), capable of operating autonomously with minimal human oversight, is rapidly evolving and poses significant implications for global security and competitiveness, according to experts at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP). Unlike current AI systems that generate responses based on prompts, agentic AI can independently set goals, create plans, and execute multi-step tasks. Ylli Bajraktari, president of the SCSP, warned in a recent newsletter that a self-accelerating loop—where AI helps build better AI—could cause capability development to far outrun projections.
The security implications are profound. Bajraktari emphasized that an agentic AI system capable of navigating complex bureaucratic systems, identifying exploitable vulnerabilities, and acting without leaving a clear attribution trail represents a qualitative expansion of adversarial capability. The United States must recognize that adversaries will deploy agentic AI in areas where governance is weakest, using it for coercion, espionage, and influence operations.
Effective governance, however, does not focus on the AI model itself but on the scaffolding built around it, SCSP experts explained. This scaffolding includes connectors that bridge the model to real-world infrastructure such as email and financial platforms; memory that allows the system to learn and adapt over time; planning capabilities that break large objectives into smaller tasks; permission structures defining system access; and guardrails specifying what the system will refuse to do, such as spending limits or human sign-offs.
Accountability remains a major challenge, with governance falling short in three key areas. First, when an AI agent acts on behalf of a user, responsibility is untraceable—there is no way to determine who authorized what. Second, current frameworks only check whether a task was completed, not whether it was performed safely or caused harm. Third, agentic AI builds personal profiles that accumulate sensitive data on behavior patterns, preferences, and inferences, potentially exceeding what individuals wish to share.
Despite these challenges, SCSP experts stress that agentic AI is not to be feared or deferred. Institutions that prioritize understanding, shaping, and governing agentic AI will determine their competitive position and influence the global operating environment. For more insights on how the United States should pursue effective governance of agentic AI, visit scsp.ai.
