In a move that reflects the growing importance of collaboration between AI systems, Google’s open-source Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol is transitioning to the Linux Foundation. This shift aims to strengthen the development of interoperable and secure communication between autonomous AI agents operating across a variety of platforms.
Originally introduced by Google in April, A2A is designed to allow AI agents to interact, identify one another, share data securely, and coordinate actions within complex, multi-agent environments. By supporting these capabilities, A2A enables developers to connect agents developed by different providers, enhancing flexibility, avoiding vendor lock-in, and fostering faster innovation.
The Linux Foundation announced on June 23 that it would now oversee the A2A project, ensuring it remains open, inclusive, and extensible. As part of this move, the protocol will benefit from the foundation’s neutral governance model, which encourages diverse contributions and maintains a focus on security, scalability, and practical implementation.
Google stated in a separate June 23 blog post that major tech organizations—including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Cisco, Salesforce, SAP, and ServiceNow—are actively involved in the project. The collective effort under the Linux Foundation’s stewardship will promote industry-wide standards for how AI agents interact and collaborate.
Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Linux Foundation, emphasized the broader impact of this development: “By bringing A2A into our community, we’re laying the groundwork for open and trusted frameworks that will drive a new generation of intelligent agent collaboration.”
Rao Surapaneni, Google Cloud’s VP and GM for the Business Applications Platform, echoed this sentiment: “Establishing a standard like A2A is crucial for building cross-platform AI systems that can truly interoperate. Partnering with the Linux Foundation and key tech leaders will accelerate the creation of robust, real-world AI applications governed by a transparent, open model.”
Developers and contributors interested in exploring or participating in the protocol’s evolution can find technical documentation and source code on GitHub under the A2A repository.
