{"id":189296,"date":"2026-02-20T18:47:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T23:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/20\/nist-agentic-ai-initiative-looks-to-get-handle-on-security\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T18:55:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T23:55:08","slug":"nist-agentic-ai-initiative-looks-to-get-handle-on-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/20\/nist-agentic-ai-initiative-looks-to-get-handle-on-security\/","title":{"rendered":"NIST agentic AI initiative looks to get handle on security"},"content":{"rendered":"

NIST agentic AI initiative looks to get handle on security<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/federalnewsnetwork.com\/cybersecurity\/2026\/02\/nist-agentic-ai-initiative-looks-to-get-handle-on-security\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Publish Date: 2026-02-20 18:47:00<\/a><\/p>\n

Source Domain: federalnewsnetwork.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Author: <\/a><\/p>\n

Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. <\/p>\n

The National Institutes of Standards and Technology is launching a new project around standards for artificial intelligence agents, with NIST positioning the project as key to advancing agentic AI innovation.
\nNIST\u2019s Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) announced the \u201cAI Agent Standards Initiative\u201d this week. The project aims to foster \u201cindustry-led technical standards and protocols that build public trust in AI agents, catalyze an interoperable agent ecosystem, and diffuse their benefits to all Americans and across the world,\u201d NIST said in a release this week.
\n\u201cAI agents can now work autonomously for hours, write and debug code, manage emails and calendars, and shop for goods, among other emerging use cases,\u201d NIST added. \u201cWhile the productivity promise is enticing, the real-world utility of agents is constrained by their ability to interact with external systems and internal data. Absent confidence in the reliability of AI agents and interoperability among agents and digital resources, innovators may face a fragmented ecosystem and stunted adoption.\u201d
\nWhile NIST\u2019s press release positioned the project around innovation, the initiative\u2019s opening products are centered on security. Since AI agents can take actions autonomously, tech experts say they present significant safety and security concerns.]]><\/p>\n

The initiative\u2019s initial outputs includes a request for information on \u201cAI agent security.\u201d The deadline for responses to the RFI is March 9.
\n\u201cCAISI effort to understand ecosystem perspectives on current threats, mitigations, measures, and other considerations related to agent security,\u201d NIST wrote on its website.
\nNIST\u2019s National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence also released a draft concept paper on \u201cSoftware and AI Agent Identity and Authorization.\u201d Feedback on the paper is due April 2.
\nThe goal of the project is to explore how standards can \u201cidentify, manage, and authorize access and actions taken by software agents, including AI agents, and provide practical guidelines for organizations to securely implement AI agents and benefit from their improved productivity, efficiency, and decision-making,\u201d the NCCoE wrote.
\nThe use and deployment of AI agent systems has also grown rapidly over the past year. A recent Microsoft Cyber Pulse report found more than 80% of Fortune 500 companies are deploying active AI agents.
\nBut since AI agents are increasingly capable and autonomous, they can also \u201cwreak havoc\u201d when given free rein within technology companies, according to a recent paper published by Georgetown\u2019s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
\nThe work at CAISI on agentic AI standards is expected to be critical as the Trump administration and Congress weigh a broader approach to AI regulations.]]><\/p>\n

Michael Kratsios, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has said previously that CAISI is a \u201cvery important part of the larger AI agenda.\u201d A top House lawmaker is developing legislation to codify the center into law.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely important that the legacy work around standards relating to AI are undertaken by CAISI, and that\u2019s what they\u2019re challenged to do,\u201d Kratsios said in a January House hearing. \u201cAnd that\u2019s the focus that they should have, because the great standards that are put out by CAISI and by NIST are the ones that, ultimately, will empower the proliferation of this technology across many industries.\u201d
\nThe NIST center is expected to play a key role in setting standards for \u201cadvanced metrology of model evaluation,\u201d Kratsios said.
\n\u201cThat is something that can be used across all industries when they want to deploy these models,\u201d he said. \u201cYou want to have trust in them so that when everyday Americans are using, whether it be medical models or anything else, they are comfortable with the fact that it has been tested and evaluated.\u201d
\nThe Biden administration initially established CAISI as the \u201cAI Safety Institute.\u201d The Trump administration rebranded the center, arguing it should focus on standards and innovation.
\n Copyright
\n \u00a9\u00a02026 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.<\/p>\n

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