Third-Party Risks Poised to Transform AI Security Landscape

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An Interview with Taylor Margot of Lytical Ventures on Autonomous Agents and AI Security Challenges

Michael Novinson (MichaelNovinson)
• August 12, 2025


Taylor Margot, partner, Lytical Ventures

The emergence of third-party risk in the realm of artificial intelligence is set to grow as organizations increasingly adopt autonomous agents that possess extensive access to systems, data, and decision-making processes. Taylor Margot, a partner at Lytical Ventures, likens this evolution to discovering a new technological landscape that necessitates entirely new security measures. Traditional controls centered around human oversight may prove inadequate, making robust permissioning, monitoring, and data governance essential.

Organizations of all sizes, particularly small and midsize enterprises, may rely heavily on external vendors for the development of these agents, thereby heightening their exposure to interconnected risks that may be difficult to manage. Margot emphasized that without the necessary visibility into vendor operations, organizations could struggle to identify issues such as data misuse, model poisoning, or unauthorized decision-making. This risk is particularly pronounced as agents begin to operate autonomously, potentially making significant changes to budgets, marketing campaigns, or hiring protocols without human intervention.

“The core strength of any modern AI system lies in its capacity to establish context,” Margot articulated. Effective data orchestration can lower costs, facilitate thorough auditing, and enhance the ability to detect anomalies. In its absence, organizations lack a solid foundation to recognize and counteract security threats.

During a recent video interview with Information Security Media Group, Margot touched on several pivotal issues regarding AI security. He argued that AI firewalls could represent a misallocated defensive investment, noted the dual advantages of strong data orchestration—reducing costs and enhancing security—and discussed the complexities of identifying where AI defenses are genuinely necessary.

Margot’s role encompasses capital formation, deal sourcing, maintaining relationships with limited partners, advising portfolios, conducting due diligence, and providing board support. With a seasoned background as a mergers and acquisitions attorney engaged in generative AI and entrepreneurship, he brings a wealth of knowledge that bridges venture capital and M&A practices.

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