Todd McKinnon, CEO of Okta, is no stranger to big challenges. With the rise of agentic software and the looming SaaSpocalypse, he's betting on AI agents reshaping corporate identity management.
“We are paranoid,” he said during an earnings call, emphasizing the need for resilience in a rapidly evolving tech landscape where companies might choose to build their own tools rather than paying for established ones like Okta’s. This paranoia stems from his belief that technology is expanding its reach and impact exponentially.
Mckinnon sees this as both a threat and an opportunity. “The pie of what we can do with AI and agents is massive,” he argues, comparing the potential to the internet itself in terms of disruption. For Okta, the challenge is to remain relevant in a world where hybrid teams of people and agents could redefine work.
“Capturing that and leading a company through this huge change is an incredible opportunity and challenge,” McKinnon explained. He envisions Okta not just surviving but thriving as one of the most important tech companies, given its current success and market potential.
In his emotional response to the SaaSpocalypse, Mckinnon’s words echo a broader shift in how we perceive technology and its role in our daily lives. The future is no longer about simply using software; it's about managing AI agents that could potentially become as integral as human colleagues.
