Dictionary entry Trending
AI agent blast radius
also agent blast radius or agentic blast radius or AI agent blast-radius
Definition of AI agent blast radius
-
: the maximum scope of data, systems, people, and downstream actions that an AI agent could affect if it makes a mistake, is compromised, or is manipulated
- Separate credentials reduced the AI agent's blast radius to one project instead of the entire company workspace.
- The security review measured agent blast radius by mapping every tool, record, external service, and other agent the workflow could reach.
Two meanings, one word
In everyday English
The area affected by an explosion.
In AI
The maximum scope of data, systems, people, and downstream actions that an AI agent could affect if it makes a mistake, is compromised, or is manipulated.
Origin & history
Blast radius is an older engineering and cybersecurity metaphor for the extent of damage caused by a failure or breach. By 2026, security guidance and industry writing were applying it specifically to autonomous AI agents whose credentials, tools, data access, and action chains can spread the effects of one bad decision across connected systems.
Editorial references
Sources & further reading
- Agentic AI: Emerging Threats, Mitigations, and Challenges↗ Official Security Presentation · National Institute of Standards and Technology · 2026
- Summary of Comments on the Concept Paper↗ Official Project Documentation · NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence · 2026
- AI Agent Blast Radius: Containment and Reduction Strategies↗ Industry Security Analysis · Obsidian Security · 2026-07-30
Test yourself
Which of these is the meaning of AI agent blast radius?
Cite this entry
"AI agent blast radius." AI Dictionary, Dadgogo, https://dadgogo.com/dictionary/ai-agent-blast-radius/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.