Palo Alto Networks says it is leveraging AI in two connected ways: using AI and automation within its cybersecurity products, and selling tools designed to help customers secure their own AI apps, models, agents, and data. Its named AI-security platform is Prisma AIRS; its AI-powered security operations portfolio includes Cortex. Those are company descriptions of product scope, not independent evidence of effectiveness.
How is Palo Alto Networks using AI?
The company’s strategy spans both security operations and the protection of AI systems. Its FY2026 Form 10-K describes Cortex as an AI-powered security operations platform and Prisma AIRS as its AI security platform. Palo Alto Networks’ Precision AI materials describe applying AI to detect and prevent threats. These statements explain the company’s positioning; they do not establish independently measured detection or remediation results. FY2026 Form 10-K Precision AI
AI inside security operations and defenses
Palo Alto Networks says Cortex combines unified data, AI, and automation for security operations and observability. The company’s February 2025 Cortex Cloud announcement described bringing cloud detection and response together with cloud-native application protection, including AI-powered prioritization, guided fixes, and automated remediation. Cortex Cloud announcement
For data security, Cortex Data Security is described as using an AI-powered foundation for discovering and classifying data, governing its use, and enforcing policies. The product page places those capabilities across data posture management, detection and response, data loss prevention, and autonomous response. Cortex Data Security
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Security for customers’ AI systems
The other side of the strategy is securing customers’ use and development of AI. Palo Alto Networks’ Secure AI by Design portfolio is intended to protect AI use and AI-powered application development. Prisma AIRS is the clearest named example: the company announced it on April 28, 2025, describing protection for AI apps, agents, models, and data. Secure AI by Design Prisma AIRS announcement
What is Prisma AIRS?
Prisma AIRS is Palo Alto Networks’ AI security platform. In its April 2025 announcement, the company listed capabilities including model vulnerability scanning, AI security posture management, automated red teaming, runtime defenses, and security for AI agents. These are the capabilities the vendor says the platform offers; actual availability may depend on product packaging and should be checked in current product materials. Prisma AIRS announcement
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How AIRS 3.0 addresses AI agents
On March 23, 2026, Palo Alto Networks announced Prisma AIRS 3.0 with an emphasis on agentic systems. The company says the release is designed to discover AI agents wherever they run, assess risk continuously, and protect agents throughout their lifecycle. Its framing extends beyond model or prompt behavior to agent identity, permissions, connected tools, and actions. These are vendor-stated scope and design claims, not independently validated efficacy claims. Prisma AIRS 3.0 announcement
An earlier AI-SPM update from November 2025 described capabilities for identifying which AI models are actively used and managing risks involving agentic AI and software supply chains. That signals an expansion in the company’s stated focus from inventory and posture management toward visibility into use and development pipelines. AI-SPM update
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Palo Alto Networks presents AI as part of a broader platform approach: applying it to prioritize security work and automate some responses, while adding tools to find and govern sensitive data and protect AI systems. For an organization assessing these products, the relevant question is not simply whether a product uses AI, but what it covers, what decisions it automates, and how its data handling fits the organization’s requirements.
Cortex by Palo Alto Networks attributes several industry figures to its The State of Cloud Security Report 2025: 60% cite cloud complexity as a top data-security challenge, one in two rely on manual review to identify sensitive data, and 59% rank over-permissive sharing as a leading risk. These are figures reported by the vendor’s report, not independently verified findings or evidence that its products improve those outcomes. Cortex Data Security
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How to assess Palo Alto Networks’ AI claims
Product labels and feature lists are a starting point, not a substitute for checking fit. Palo Alto Networks publishes AI transparency materials, including datasheets for Cortex Platform, Prisma AIRS Red Teaming and Runtime Security, PAN-OS, and other products, alongside responsible-AI principles and a governance framework. Review the datasheet for the specific product under consideration to understand its stated data use. Palo Alto Networks AI transparency materials
- Scope: Check whether the product covers the systems at issue—such as model development, runtime applications, agents, data, or security operations.
- Agent controls: For agentic AI, examine discovery, identity, permissions, connected tools, and actions rather than focusing only on model or prompt risks.
- Operational fit: Confirm integrations, deployment constraints, packaging, and which functions require human review in current product datasheets.
- Evidence: Distinguish vendor statements about capabilities from independently measured detection, remediation, or customer outcomes.
- Data handling: Read product-specific transparency documentation rather than assuming that all products process or retain data in the same way.
In the April 2025 Prisma AIRS announcement, Palo Alto Networks Chief Product Officer Lee Klarich said: “Organizations need best-in-class security delivered via the right architecture – platformization is that architecture.” Prisma AIRS announcement
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