ServiceNow adds a kill switch for AI agents to prevent out-of-control risks

SaaS company ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott says its platform has a kill switch that can stop out-of-control AI agents, preventing scenarios like OpenAI's model escaping and attacking infrastructure. He believes the rapid adoption of AI is strengthening ServiceNow's competitive position. Its control system gives customers a central place to monitor, manage, and protect AI agents, helping them move from 'AI chaos to AI discipline.'

McDermott doesn't think AI will hurt the company's profits. Instead, he says more AI use will drive demand for ServiceNow's software. He's seeing longer contract terms. In Q2 2026, ServiceNow reported $3.877 billion in subscription revenue, up 24.5% year-over-year. Remaining performance obligations hit $13.2 billion, up 21%. The company closed 123 new deals worth over $1 million each.