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News AI Mar 30, 2026, 10:08 PM
Emerging

Okta’s CEO is betting big on AI agent identity: why this signal is getting harder to ignore

Today, I’m talking with Todd McKinnon, who is co-founder and CEO of Okta, a platform that lets big companies manage security and identity across all the apps and services their employees use. Think of it like login management — actually, that’s a great way to think about it because the way most people encounter Okta is that it’s the thing that makes you log in again right before joining a meeting several times a week, so then you’re late for the meeting… Can you tell we use Okta? This piece sits on 1 source layers, but the real value is showing why the story should not be skimmed past too quickly.

Today, I’m talking with Todd McKinnon, who is co-founder and CEO of Okta, a platform that lets big companies manage security and identity across all the apps and services their employees use. Think of it like login management — actually, that’s a great way to think about it because the way most people encounter Okta is that it’s the thing that makes you log in again right before joining a meeting several times a week, so then you’re late for the meeting… Can you tell we use Okta? The signal is strong enough to deserve attention, but it still needs to be read as something developing rather than fully settled.

Mai Linh AI and Workflow Editor
Emerging The topic has initial corroboration, but the newsroom is still waiting on stronger confirmation.
Reference image for: Okta’s CEO is betting big on AI agent identity: why this signal is getting harder to ignore
Reference image from The Verge AI. The Verge AI

Today, I’m talking with Todd McKinnon, who is co-founder and CEO of Okta, a platform that lets big companies manage security and identity across all the apps and services their employees use. Think of it like login management — actually, that’s a great way to think about it because the way most people encounter Okta is that it’s the thing that makes you log in again right before joining a meeting several times a week, so then you’re late for the meeting… Can you tell we use Okta? Anyhow, all of that is a big business — Okta has a $14 billion market cap. The Verge AI is the main source layer for now, and the rest should be read as a signal that is still widening. The important angle is that this touches the shift from AI as a demo to AI as real work, where speed, cost, and reliability start deciding who wins.

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What is happening now

Today, I’m talking with Todd McKinnon, who is co-founder and CEO of Okta, a platform that lets big companies manage security and identity across all the apps and services their employees use. Think of it like login management — actually, that’s a great way to think about it because the way most people encounter Okta is that it’s the thing that makes you log in again right before joining a meeting several times a week, so then you’re late for the meeting… Can you tell we use Okta? The main references behind this piece include The Verge AI.

Where the sources line up

The Verge AI is the main source layer for now, and the rest should be read as a signal that is still widening. Anyhow, all of that is a big business — Okta has a $14 billion market cap. But big software as a service companies like Okta are under a lot of pressure in the age of AI. Why would you pay their fees when you can just vibe-code your own tools? This so-called Saaspocalypse is a big deal, and Todd recently said he was “paranoid” about it on Okta’s most recent earnings call. So we dug into it, and how he’s putting that paranoia into practice inside Okta — what he’s changing, and what opportunities he’s going after to head off the apocalypse. Today, I’m talking with Todd McKinnon, who is co-founder and CEO of Okta, a platform that lets big companies manage security and identity across all the apps and services their employees use.

Advertising slot

Patrick Tech Store Accounts, tools, and software now available in the store This slot is temporarily dedicated to the Patrick Tech ecosystem.

The details worth keeping

Anyhow, all of that is a big business — Okta has a $14 billion market cap. But big software as a service companies like Okta are under a lot of pressure in the age of AI. Why would you pay their fees when you can just vibe-code your own tools? This so-called Saaspocalypse is a big deal, and Todd recently said he was “paranoid” about it on Okta’s most recent earnings call. So we dug into it, and how he’s putting that paranoia into practice inside Okta — what he’s changing, and what opportunities he’s going after to head off the apocalypse. Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Decoder wherever you get your podcasts. Head here . Not a subscriber? You can sign up here . The important angle is that this touches the shift from AI as a demo to AI as real work, where speed, cost, and reliability start deciding who wins.

Why this matters most

The signal is strong enough to deserve attention, but it still needs to be read as something developing rather than fully settled. With 1 source layers on the table, the part worth reading most closely is where firm facts meet the market's early reaction. Think of it like login management — actually, that’s a great way to think about it because the way most people encounter Okta is that it’s the thing that makes you log in again right before joining a meeting several times a week, so then you’re late for the meeting… Can you tell we use Okta?

What to watch next

The next question is how quickly the shift reaches real products and who feels it first in everyday work. Patrick Tech Media will keep checking rollout speed, user reaction, and how The Verge AI update the next pieces. In this pass, the story was distilled from 1 signals into 1 source references that are genuinely useful to readers.

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