In the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence (AI), new standardization protocols are emerging to simplify model connections and agent management, helping chief information officers (CIOs) in enterprises develop more efficient AI deployment strategies while avoiding being locked into a single supplier. In particular, three new protocols—the Model Context Protocol (MCP), Agent Communication Protocol (ACP), and Agent2Agent—are providing IT leaders with clear direction to move away from failed proof-of-concept projects over the past two years and embrace measurable AI progress.
Released by AI company Anthropic last November, MCP aims to provide a standardized method for connecting AI models across different data sources and tools. Its greatest advantage lies in allowing users to flexibly choose the most performant language model (LLM) and its vendor, avoiding the predicament of supplier lock-in. Known as a "pipeline system," MCP effectively connects various AI components. Additionally, Microsoft and other AI vendors have begun supporting MCP, continuously enhancing its compatibility.
Figure note: Image generated by AI
Following closely, IBM released ACP this year, an agreement that enables AI agents from different suppliers to connect with each other. ACP utilizes standard HTTP communication modes, simplifying the integration process and providing higher interoperability and reusability for enterprises. In the same month, Google also launched the Agent2Agent protocol, further promoting collaboration between diverse AI agents. With support from over 50 technical partners, Agent2Agent allows enterprises to chain together multiple AI agents, making it easier to access specialized capabilities.
With the introduction of these protocols, experts foresee the emergence of AI agent stores, enabling users to select from pre-built agents or models provided by numerous vendors without the need to train their own models. These new protocols mark a new path toward scalable AI adoption for enterprises, making standardization a key driver of rapid development. As Christian Posta, Global Chief Technology Officer at Solo.io, said, speed without standardization will only lead to chaos, while standardization provides assurance for purposeful expansion.