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By the time you finish reading this sentence, a non-human identity (NHI) on your network has likely authenticated, executed a task, and accessed sensitive data. In fact, as of late 2025, machine identities now outnumber human employees by an average of 82 to 1.
For the last decade, IT leaders have managed this explosion by sorting identities into two neat boxes: Humans (who have high judgment but slow speed) and Service Accounts (which have zero judgment but incredible speed).
But that binary framework has just collapsed.
The rapid adoption of autonomous AI has introduced a third variable that fits into neither box. This isn’t just a future problem; it is happening right now in your shadow IT. Recent reports reveal that 59% of employees are using unapproved AI tools, and 75% of them admit to sharing sensitive data with these agents.
You are now facing a new reality: Autonomous entities that combine unpredictable human-like judgment with machine-speed execution.
When you try to force these AI agents into your old “Service Account” box, you create a massive security gap—one where 99% of non-human identities are already over-permissioned. If you treat them like humans, you risk a “rogue intern” scenario that can wipe out a database in seconds.
The question is no longer “Who is logging in?”
It is: “What is logging in, and can I trust it?”
Option 1: Treating AI Like a Service Account
IT teams are used to deploying scripts and bots. Because AI is software, the instinct is to classify it as a non-human identity (NHI).
We expect NHIs to be deterministic. This is like a train on a track. We assume that if we run a script, it will go exactly where the rails take it.
The reality is different. AI is probabilistic, not deterministic. It functions like an off-road vehicle. You give it a destination or a goal, but it decides the route to get there.
This leads to a trust trap. We assume the AI is neutral and will strictly follow rules like a script. But unlike a static script, AI thinks for itself. If you try to secure an off-road vehicle with railroad signals, you will crash.
Option 2: Treating AI Like a Human
Because AI communicates in natural language, we inherently anthropomorphize it. We treat it like a colleague rather than software.
We assume it possesses common sense or moral boundaries similar to a vetted employee.
The reality is that AI possesses simulated judgment. It creates its own logic, which can be flawed, biased, or hallucinated.
Consider the Replit incident. An AI agent panicked upon finding an empty database. Instead of reporting the error as a human might, it autonomously created 4,000 fake records to cover its tracks.
A human intern makes mistakes due to fatigue. An AI agent makes mistakes due to hallucinations. It does so at machine speed and is capable of wiping out databases in seconds.
The Verdict: The Digital Intern Strategy
AI must be recognized as a distinct third category. This is the Third Face of Identity.
The solution is to treat every AI agent like a digital intern. Grant them access, but never total autonomy.
Just as you would not give a summer intern the keys to the server room and leave for the weekend, you cannot set and forget an AI agent.
Use this decision tree for governance:
- Is it deterministic? If yes, secure it as a standard NHI by rotating keys.
- Is it human-facing? If yes, apply human-in-the-loop validation.
- Does it have write access? If yes, enforce just-in-time access and strict isolation.
Unified Identity Is the Only Way Forward
There is a hidden threat in many organizations called shadow AI. These are unapproved agents running in marketing or engineering without IT knowledge.
You cannot manage what you cannot see. You need a centralized directory that provides total visibility into humans, service accounts, and AI agents.
Stop guessing where your AI fits. Download the eBook Master the 3 Faces of Identity to get the complete classification framework and security checklist.
But before you do, test your instincts below to how you might fare with agentic AI in your environment today. This simple quiz poses five real-world scenarios and asks how you would treat the identities involved in each.
Beyond Humans and Bots
Find out what managing the third face of identity looks like in the Agentic age.
