Learn how to get the most out of agentic security without losing the human touch.
No one questions the need for a copilot on a plane. In fact, most people feel better knowing there’s a second set of eyes in the cockpit.
The copilot is there to assist, support, or take over if needed—not to replace the human who’s ultimately responsible for the flight. AI in security is a lot like that. It doesn’t take away the need for the humans running the show. Like a copilot in a cockpit, it acts as a partner and amplifies the strength of human security teams.
In this article, we’ll explore how agentic AI is transforming physical security and share tips for security teams trying to strike the perfect blend of automation and oversight.
To understand agentic security, it helps to first understand what’s powering it: generative AI and agentic AI.
Generative AI refers to machine learning models trained on massive datasets to produce new content—like text, images, or audio—based on the patterns they've learned. These models don’t actually think or understand, they’re just really good at predicting what should come next based on the data they’ve been trained on.
Agentic AI refers to AI systems designed to operate as autonomous agents. These agents can make decisions, take action, and pursue goals independently. They monitor their environment, choose from possible responses, and adapt over time, all without needing a human to tell them what to do and when.
Agentic security leverages both generative and agentic AI. It uses generative AI to process and communicate information, and agentic AI to actively manage security operations. The result is a system that can interpret what’s happening and respond instantly, intelligently, and autonomously.
Traditional security systems rely on human attention. Someone has to watch live feeds (or manually review hours of footage after the fact) to catch potential security risks. It’s time-consuming, tedious, and easy to miss something important.
Agentic AI enables security systems to detect threats in real time, no human eyes necessary. It continuously analyzes video feeds (never needing to clock out or step away from the screen to rest its eyes) looking for patterns and behaviors that suggest something’s off.
Traditionally, deterrence requires human intervention. Security teams have to see something suspicious, decide whether it’s a threat, and decide how to respond. But that window between noticing and acting is where a lot of threats slip through the cracks.
Agentic AI closes that gap by detecting suspicious behavior and acting on it instantly. If someone’s loitering near a restricted zone, an agentic system can flash lights, trigger alarms, or issue a personalized audio warning. And of course, it can send your personnel an alert so they’re always in the know about what’s going down on your property.
Traditional surveillance systems are expensive to scale. More cameras means the need for more people to monitor and manage them. For lean teams, expanding coverage can feel like an impossible tradeoff: do you spread your resources thinner or knowingly leave blindspots in coverage and hope for the best?
Agentic AI makes it possible to scale without stretching. It doesn’t get overwhelmed by more inputs. Whether it’s monitoring one site or a hundred, it applies the same level of focus to every feed. That allows security teams to increase coverage without needing to grow headcount or burn out staff.
Agentic AI is great at spotting and responding to unusual behavior, but sometimes empathy beats automation. Think about an elderly person who’s wandered into a construction zone or someone with a known history of mental health episodes behaving erratically near a property. Triggering a startling deterrent might not fix anything in those scenarios. A human, though, can step in and handle the sensitive situation with care.
Agentic security is powerful, but it’s not a self-running robot. It doesn’t plug itself in, update its own firmware, or troubleshoot its own connectivity issues. Someone has to install it, configure it, monitor its health, and keep the system updated.
AI can do a lot of things, but it can’t build relationships. It can’t reassure a concerned tenant or explain policy to a frustrated loyal customer. Trust is built through consistency, communication, and connection. When security involves people—whether it’s employees, residents, vendors, or community members—human oversight makes all the difference.
When implementing agentic security strategies and solutions, the goal isn’t to hand over control but to shift how operations are managed. Here are some tips to strike the right balance:
If you're ready to learn how LVT can help implement cutting-edge security solutions, schedule a demo today. Whether you're upgrading outdated systems or starting from scratch, we’re here to help you get the balance right.
