According to ShibDaily, Google has unveiled a new open protocol named Agent2Agent (A2A) to facilitate secure communication between AI agents, marking a significant advancement in AI interoperability. The announcement was made on Google's developer blog, highlighting the company's efforts to address challenges faced during the deployment of large, multi-agent frameworks for clients. The A2A protocol has garnered support from over 50 technology partners, including Atlassian, Box, Cohere, Intuit, Langchain, MongoDB, PayPal, Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, UKG, and Workday, along with leading service providers such as Accenture, BCG, Capgemini, Cognizant, Deloitte, HCLTech, Infosys, KPMG, McKinsey, PwC, TCS, and Wipro.
Google's A2A protocol is designed to enable seamless interaction among AI agents across various platforms, facilitating secure information exchange and coordinated actions within enterprise environments. By adopting this protocol, developers can create interoperable agents that connect and collaborate with others built using A2A. The protocol also introduces a machine-readable "Agent Card" formatted in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), allowing client agents to identify the most suitable agent for specific tasks. Once connected, agents can exchange messages containing context, responses, digital artifacts, or direct user instructions, enhancing collaboration and task execution.
The A2A protocol is intended to work alongside Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP), providing useful tools and context to AI agents. Built on Google's experience with large-scale AI systems, A2A aims to address common issues businesses encounter when using multiple agents simultaneously. For enterprises, it offers a consistent method to manage these agents across different platforms and cloud services. Google emphasizes that universal compatibility is crucial for unlocking the full potential of collaborative AI agents. As AI agents become more advanced and widely adopted, protocols like A2A could play a pivotal role in shaping their interaction and collaboration. By focusing on interoperability, Google seeks to establish a shared foundation that enables diverse agents from various providers and platforms to work together seamlessly. This move towards standardization may be vital in developing more intelligent, cooperative, and scalable AI ecosystems in the future.