What it is
Google's open protocol that allows AI agents from different vendors to communicate and collaborate with each other.
Why it matters
As businesses deploy multiple AI agents (sales, support, marketing), they need to work together. A2A provides a standardized way for agents to discover each other's capabilities, negotiate tasks, and collaborate securely - even if they're built on different platforms.
Related terms
MCP (Model Context Protocol)
Anthropic's open standard for connecting AI models to external data sources and tools. Think of it as a universal adapter for AI.
AI Agent
An autonomous AI system that can perceive its environment, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals - without constant human direction.
Agentforce
Salesforce's AI agent platform that enables businesses to build, customize, and deploy autonomous AI agents across sales, service, marketing, and commerce.