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answer: direct
beat: opinions
source: 1 article · updated: October 17, 2026
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What is the difference between an AI agent's capability and authority?

Capability describes what an agent can technically do; authority describes what it has been permitted to do for a user. A task request should grant only the access and actions needed for that task. Persistence or a strong interpretation of intent does not create permission to cross a system boundary.

Answered in

An AI Agent’s Determination Can Become Your Product’s Liability

Opinion: task persistence should never let an agent cross access boundaries; capability, intent and authority must remain distinct.

Crashtech Editorial October 17, 2026 Opinions

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