What are Agent Protocols?
Agent Protocols are a shared language that lets AI agents talk to tools like calendars, CRMs, spreadsheets, databases, or email.
Protocols like A2A, MCP & ACP set the ground rules for cooperation, security, and context-sharing between AI and the software we use every day.
A2A, MCP & ACP Explained
Imagine hiring a brilliant assistant. They’re smart, fast, and tireless. But… they don’t speak your language. Every time you want them to book a meeting, send an email, or file a report, you have to invent a whole new way to explain it.
That’s what AI agents were like before A2A (Agent-to-Agent Protocol), MCP (Model Context Protocol) and ACP (Agent Communication Protocol).
Protocols are shared languages — a kind of “lingua franca” — that lets AI agents talk to tools like calendars, CRMs, spreadsheets, databases, or email. Instead of struggling to figure out how to open a doc or fetch a task, your AI assistant can just ask — and get it done.
These are a set of ground rules for cooperation, security, and context-sharing between AI and the software we use every day.
What about a Protocol Server like an MCP Server?
The translator booth that connects your tools to AI.
Now, to actually use this shared language, each tool (like Google Docs, Notion, GitHub, or a custom internal app) needs a translator — that’s the MCP server.
Think of an MCP server as a little plug-in that understands both sides:
- It speaks your tool’s native API language.
- It speaks the AI’s MCP language.
It listens to what the agent wants, figures out how to do that inside the tool, and makes sure it happens securely and reliably. It’s like a power adapter — letting your AI agent plug into the world.
Why do Agent Protocols and Agent Servers matter for AI Agents?
AI Agents is about giving intelligent software the tools to do, not just suggest.
But until recently, agents were like interns with no logins — they had great ideas, but no access.
Agent servers open the door. With them, agents become:
- Meeting schedulers that check calendars and send invites.
- Report generators that pull real-time data and format it for your team.
- Tool operators that update tasks, track issues, and coordinate handoffs.
Without protocols, agents are clever chatbots.
With protocols they’re capable coworkers.