Descriptions:
Okta CEO Todd McKinnon joined Bloomberg Technology to rebut the so-called SaaSpocalypse narrative—the idea that AI-generated software will hollow out traditional SaaS businesses. McKinnon’s counterargument is direct: the shift to AI agents makes identity infrastructure more critical than ever, not less. Every agent connecting to enterprise databases, applications, and APIs needs a verified identity, and Okta has built a dedicated product, Okta for AI Agents, to serve as that connectivity and security layer across the enterprise.
McKinnon described the real barrier to agentic AI deployment not as model capability—which he says already far exceeds what enterprises can practically connect and govern—but as secure, reliable wiring between agents and the data sources they need. He pointed to a scenario most professionals recognize: a canceled flight that still requires a human phone call to resolve, despite agents theoretically having access to all the relevant booking, payment, and calendar data. Closing that gap securely is Okta’s stated focus, backed by what McKinnon calls an industry blueprint for agent connectivity.
On workforce, McKinnon offered a notable counter-consensus view: he expects Okta to employ significantly more software engineers five years from now than today. His logic is that AI-driven productivity enables far more software to be built, generating demand that outpaces efficiency gains. Okta’s raised guidance reflects confidence in two simultaneous tailwinds—the reinvention of enterprise identity and the entirely new category of automated digital work powered by AI agents.
📺 Source: Bloomberg Technology · Published June 04, 2026
🏷️ Format: Interview
