Six vendors launched AI agent identity management in November 2025. Microsoft, AWS, CyberArk, Ping Identity, Oasis Security, Akeyless. All solving the same problem: agent sprawl.
Here's what that timing tells you. 82% of companies already run AI agents. 53% of those agents touch sensitive data daily. But the infrastructure to track them, secure them, manage their lifecycles? Just showing up now.
Watch what happens in practice. Agent ownership changes hands four times in the first year. Developer leaves, agent stays. Still holding credentials, still accessing systems. No owner, no lifecycle, no audit trail.
The industry shipped agents first, asked governance questions later. Now we're retrofitting identity management onto deployed systems. Build it in from the start. Your future security team will thank you.