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
“And step five — this is the one — the agent reaches for sudo to install the cloud SDK system-wide.”Episode 049 — An AI Agent Reached for Root in Twelve Minutes, Without Being Attacked