As AI becomes integral to software development, companies must ensure their authentication strategies are robust and ready for AI agents, treating them as clients similar to humans and using standards-based protocols like OAuth for security and compatibility. Brian Pontarelli, Founder and CTO of FusionAuth, emphasizes the need for performance, scalability, and security in modern authentication systems, suggesting that executives focus on core UX metrics such as authentication success rates and response times. He advocates for local-first and self-hosted authentication models to enhance control over performance and data privacy, particularly in development and testing environments, and warns against relying on outdated protocols, highlighting the importance of aligning with established standards. As AI systems increasingly access sensitive data, maintaining security through multi-factor authentication and monitoring privileged account activity becomes crucial for trust and compliance. Pontarelli advises that authentication is now a critical component of AI and automation strategies, urging companies to modernize their systems to avoid hindering their AI initiatives.