Definition
Plain language
The Unix command that runs an action with administrator privileges.
As stated in the literature
The Unix utility for executing commands as another user (typically root); used in shell-access contexts to escalate to system-level privileges.
Why it matters: It's the standard gate between ordinary user actions and full system control, so any AI agent that can invoke it has effectively root access to the machine.
For example, running 'sudo apt install' lets a user install system packages that a regular account isn't allowed to touch.
Heard on the show
“It finds the sudo audit log.”Episode 061 — When Helpful Agents Go Sideways: A 404 Error, Campus Security, and Why Alignment Misses This