The CEO of cybersecurity firm Zscaler, Jay Chaudhry, is raising concerns about the rapid rise of AI agents and the cyber risks they pose. He believes that AI automation is accelerating the “franchising” of cybercrime, making it easier for even inexperienced attackers to execute complex hacks in seconds. This shift, he argues, is outpacing traditional defense methods and could overwhelm current cybersecurity responses.
Chaudhry pointed out that tools powered by AI can quickly map out vulnerabilities like weak firewalls and VPN endpoints, delivering this information instantly in a structured format that previously would have required skilled experts. According to him, this automation drastically shortens the window defenders have to react, potentially leading to more successful breaches and rising threat volumes. As a result, he says AI-driven security strategies must evolve to keep pace with the growing threat landscape.
Because of these risks, Chaudhry argues that cybersecurity has become more critical than ever. He advocates for unified, cloud-based defense platforms capable of protecting users, applications, and data in real time against increasingly automated attacks. His warning reflects broader anxiety in the tech world about how AI agents could be turned against businesses and systems before adequate protective measures are in place.
This alarm from a leading tech CEO underscores the tension between AI’s promise of efficiency and its potential to enable harmful activity. While AI agents can boost productivity and unlock new capabilities, they also lower barriers for malicious actors and demand more advanced defense strategies. As AI continues to spread across industries, experts say it’s crucial to balance innovation with robust security planning.
