Hi reader,

The season finale of AI Confidential arrives at a pivotal moment in AI's evolution—where questions of trust and verification have become existential to the industry's future.

In this landmark episode, Anthropic CISO Jason Clinton makes a compelling case for why confidential computing isn't just a security feature—it's fundamentally essential to AI's future. His strategic vision aligns with what we've heard from other tech luminaries on the show, including Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich and NVIDIA's Daniel Rohrer: confidential computing is becoming the cornerstone of responsible AI development and is essential to the strategy at Anthropic.

Jason's insights are particularly striking when considering Anthropic's position at the forefront of AI development. His detailed analysis of why Anthropic has identified confidential computing as mission-critical to their future operations speaks volumes about where the industry is headed. As he explains, achieving verifiable trust through attested data pipelines and models isn't just about security—it's about enabling the next wave of AI innovation.

​​Let me build on Jason's points to underscore why this matters so deeply: Consider the probability of data exposure as AI systems multiply. Even with a seemingly small 1% risk of data exposure per AI agent, the math becomes alarming at scale. With 10 inter-operating agents, the probability of at least one breach jumps to 9.6%. With 100 agents, it soars to 63%. At 1,000 agents? The probability approaches virtual certainty at 99.99%. This isn't just theoretical—as organizations deploy AI agents across their infrastructure as "virtual employees," these risks compound rapidly. The mathematical reality is unforgiving: without the guarantees that confidential computing provides, the danger becomes untenable at scale.

Through this lens, Jason's insights reveal why confidential computing has moved from a "nice-to-have" to an absolute necessity for responsible AI development. And while Anthropic leads in developing transformative AI models, they recognize that the future demands more than just capability—it requires verifiable trust at every layer of the stack.

As we wrap up this season of AI Confidential, what's clear is that confidential computing has moved beyond the exclusive domain of tech giants. While Apple builds Private Cloud Compute, Microsoft and Google construct their infrastructure on confidential computing foundations, we're (at Opaque) focused on democratizing these capabilities. Every enterprise deserves access to secure, trusted AI infrastructure—without the complexity of building custom confidential computing stacks. That's the future we're building, and your engagement with these critical discussions helps shape our vision of making confidential AI accessible to all.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a bright start to the new year. See you in 2025!

Warmly,
Aaron Fulkerson
CEO, Opaque Systems

​​Don’t miss this exclusive look at the future of AI. Listen or watch the full episode on all major streaming platforms and be sure to subscribe to stay in the know when future episodes drop!

In the Lab

The latest happenings at Opaque Systems

Opaque's AI Confidential Webinar Rescheduled for Dec. 19th: Empowering a New Era of Data Privacy and Responsible AI
Due to the 7.0 earthquake that occurred in Northern California shortly before the scheduled webinar on December 5th, a Tsunami warning was issued for the San Francisco Bay area—out of caution for our presenters and the guidance of the National Tsunami Warning Center, we decided to postpone the webinar for December 19th at 10 a.m. PT.

Responsible AI is more than just a best practice—it’s a critical foundation for AI applications. From safeguarding data privacy and sovereignty to reducing bias and enhancing transparency, responsible AI frameworks empower businesses to drive innovation while building trust. Stay tuned for our webinar, hosted by Rishabh Poddar, Co-Founder & CTO of Opaque, and Giorgio Natili, VP and Head of Engineering. Want to learn how to foster innovation, without compromising sensitive data privacy? Register today!

Savya Podcast Spotlight: How Opaque Systems is Revolutionizing AI Data Sovereignty
In this episode of Savya Spotlight—a podcast featuring Founders and CEOs from innovative companies—Opaque CEO Aaron Fulkerson, joins Savya VP of Strategic Operations John Kasion for an insightful conversation. Over the next 3-5 years, powerful business incumbents will implode as their partners in distribution or supply chains disrupt them. Aaron and John explore how data sovereignty is the key to survival—and why confidential computing is essential to securing AI innovation. Listen in for real-world examples of industries being upended today and learn how leaders can protect their businesses through data ownership.