Microsoft Adopts Google's Standard for AI Agent Communication

Microsoft Backs Google's Agent2Agent Protocol

Microsoft has announced its support for Google’s Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol. This open protocol facilitates communication between AI “agents.”

Integration with Microsoft Platforms

The company will integrate A2A support into two key AI development platforms: Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio. Microsoft is also actively participating in the A2A working group on GitHub, contributing to the protocol’s development and associated tooling.

According to a company blog post, supporting A2A is crucial for building the next generation of software. This software will be inherently collaborative, observable, and adaptive.

How Agent2Agent Works

Google introduced A2A in early April. It enables AI-powered, semi-autonomous programs – the agents – to collaborate seamlessly across diverse clouds, applications, and services.

The protocol allows agents to exchange objectives and initiate actions. Developers benefit from interoperable components designed to ensure secure agent collaboration.

Cross-Platform Agent Collaboration

Once A2A is implemented in Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio, agents created on these platforms will be able to utilize external agents for specific tasks. These external agents could be developed with different tools or hosted on other platforms.

For instance, an agent operating within the Microsoft ecosystem could manage meeting scheduling, while a Google agent simultaneously handles the creation of email invitations.

Microsoft emphasizes that this allows customers to construct intricate, multi-agent workflows. These workflows can encompass internal agents, partner tools, and existing production infrastructure, all while upholding governance and service-level agreements.

Growing Interest in Agentic Technology

Despite being a relatively new technology, agentic AI is attracting significant investment as organizations seek to improve productivity. A recent KPMG survey revealed that 65% of companies are currently experimenting with AI agents.

Market analysis from Markets and Markets forecasts substantial growth in the AI agent segment. They project an increase from $7.84 billion in 2025 to $52.62 billion by 2030.

Support for Multiple Protocols

Microsoft’s endorsement of A2A follows its earlier support for MCP, Anthropic’s standard for connecting AI to data systems, within Copilot Studio. Leading AI model providers, including Google and OpenAI, have also committed to adopting MCP this year.