Verified user identity for AI agents
This architecture playbook is for establishing a verified user identity for your AI agent, which takes action on behalf of a human user.
High
High
2–4 hours
Moderate
User authentication
B2C agents acting on behalf of end users
B2B agents operating within customer workflows
Internal agents tied to employee identity
Builders making foundational identity decisions
What verified user identity looks like
Auth0 verifies the user interacting with your AI agent through Universal Login or an Embedded Login experience. Once verified, the agent receives a scoped, time-limited token tied to that specific user’s context. Every action the agent takes is authorized by and attributable to that person. When the token expires, access stops.
Explore Auth0 for AI Agents
When you should use this playbook
Follow this playbook whenever a human initiates an action within an application, tool, or agent.
Use when:
Your AI agent takes actions on behalf of an authenticated user
You need every AI agent action attributed to a verified user identity
You're in a regulated environment requiring audit trails for users
You're building a B2C, B2B, or internal AI agent that serves human users
Skip when:
Your AI agent runs as a background service with no user present
Your action requires no user context or permission boundary
Your AI agent takes no actions on behalf of a human user
You're looking for machine-to-machine authentication
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Set up the right identity foundation for your AI agents now, so you can see the payoffs later.
Audit and approval trail
Scoped agent permissions
Reduced technical debt
No hardcoded credentials
Build approach comparison
Compare the common build approaches and their respective risks.
Approach | Best for | Auth flow | Potential risks | Risk | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Verified user identity | AI agent acts on behalf of an authenticated user | Human error leading to approval of an AI agent's action, but with a clear audit trail | MEDIUM | YES | |
Hardcoded credentials | Quick, functional build | None | Credentials leaking into public repos, an agent has over-permissioned access, no audit trail back to a specific user | HIGH | NO |
Implementation docs and guidance
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