Latest news with #LinuxFoundation
Arabian Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Google Entrusts A2A AI Framework to Linux Foundation
Google has transferred ownership of its Agent2Agent protocol—including its specification, developer SDKs and tooling—to the Linux Foundation, ushering in a new era of open, vendor-neutral collaboration on AI agent interoperability. Announced on 23 June at the Open Source Summit North America, the move positions more than 100 organisations, including AWS, Cisco, Microsoft, Salesforce, SAP and ServiceNow, to jointly steward and evolve the protocol under a neutral governance framework. A2A, first introduced by Google in April 2025, establishes an open standard enabling autonomous AI agents to discover peers, exchange secure information and coordinate multi-step tasks across different platforms. Firms such as AWS and Cisco have already integrated or plan to integrate A2A into key components like directory services, identity, messaging and observability frameworks. Google's motivation for migrating A2A to the Linux Foundation stems from concerns over fragmentation and vendor lock-in in enterprise AI ecosystems. A neutral, open-governance structure, the announcement explains, will accelerate adoption, encourage wider contributions and maintain long-term stewardship of the protocol. ADVERTISEMENT Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin emphasised the importance of neutrality, stating that hosting A2A ensures long-term collaboration and unbiased governance necessary to unlock agent‑to‑agent productivity. Google Cloud's Rao Surapaneni further described A2A as a 'vital open standard' that enables interoperable AI frameworks across platforms. The initiative has drawn support from major tech providers. AWS's Swami Sivasubramanian pledged contributions to the protocol and its agentic ecosystem, while Cisco's Vijoy Pandey underlined A2A's role in building an 'interoperable Internet of Agents' via integrations with open-source components. Microsoft, Salesforce, SAP and ServiceNow echoed these endorsements, with commitments to incorporate the protocol within their enterprise-grade AI offerings. The migration also signals a broader effort within the AI community to embrace open standards. While organisations such as Anthropic with its Model Context Protocol focus on connecting agents to tools and data, A2A complements by enabling agent-to-agent coordination. Mike Smith of Google noted at the summit that the protocol has been revised to allow flexible extensions and improved agent identity frameworks. Analysts predict that establishing robust standards for AI agent interoperability could pave the way for more complex, multi-agent workflows in enterprise systems. A report from Futurum Group forecasts that agent-driven automation could generate around $6 trillion of economic value by 2028, though experts caution governance and security frameworks must evolve in parallel. Academic scrutiny, however, highlights lingering security and privacy concerns. A May 2025 paper on arXiv emphasised the need for enhancements such as short‑lived tokens, consent‑driven exchanges, and tighter control mechanisms to safeguard sensitive data flows between agents. Another study from April provided a comprehensive analysis of secure implementations, recommending proactive threat modelling and structured identity governance to fortify A2A deployments. Under the Linux Foundation, A2A will benefit from established intellectual property frameworks, transparent technical working groups and community-driven decision processes, according to the Linux Foundation's press materials. The governance roadmap includes exploring standards around trustworthy identity, delegated authority, policy controls and reputational attributes that could underpin a mature, interoperable ecosystem. The protocol's practical-ready toolkit, including Python and TypeScript implementations, has already been shared via GitHub to accelerate developer engagement. The open-source community is invited to contribute, with growing participation from systems integrators, enterprise vendors and independent developers. Enterprise adoption is expected to advance steadily as major cloud and systems providers thread A2A into their AI platforms. Use cases include orchestrating task-specific agents—for example, a procurement assistant triggering financial audit agents, or compliance bots coordinating with legal review agents—without proprietary lock‑in. Nonetheless, challenges remain. Multi-stakeholder governance could slow decision cycles, and competing priorities may hamper swift feature roll-out. Yet proponents argue that the foundational benefits of open, interoperable agent ecosystems outweigh such trade‑offs in the long term. The real test will come in adoption: how effectively Linux Foundation‑hosted governance can shepherd A2A from ambitious standard to enterprise‑grade infrastructure underpinning next‑gen AI workflows.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Key Tech Firms Unite As Google Donates A2A To Linux Foundation
Neurons Major technology vendors are converging around a single protocol for artificial intelligence agent communication, potentially ending the fragmentation that has limited the deployment of enterprise AI. Google's donation of its Agent2Agent protocol to the Linux Foundation brings together Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Microsoft, Salesforce, SAP and ServiceNow as foundational members of a new standardization effort. The move addresses a fundamental challenge facing enterprise technology leaders: how to deploy AI agents that can work together across different platforms without requiring custom integrations for each vendor relationship. Current enterprise AI implementations often create isolated systems that cannot share information or coordinate tasks, limiting the automation potential that drives AI investment decisions. Technical Foundation Enables Cross-Platform Agent Communication The a2a protocol operates as a communication layer that allows AI agents to discover each other's capabilities, exchange information securely and coordinate complex tasks regardless of their underlying technology stack. The system uses JSON-RPC 2.0 over HTTP for standardized communication, with server-sent events enabling real-time streaming interactions between agents. Agent discovery occurs through 'Agent Cards,' which serve as digital business cards that contain capability descriptions and connection information. When an agent needs to complete a task requiring specialized expertise, it can query available agents, review their capabilities and establish secure communication channels without human intervention. The protocol supports both synchronous request-response patterns and asynchronous workflows, accommodating enterprise scenarios where tasks may require human approval or extend across multiple business days. Authentication mechanisms ensure that only authorized agents can access specific capabilities while maintaining audit trails for compliance requirements. Amazon Web Services has already demonstrated practical implementation by creating tools that expose Bedrock agents through a2a endpoints. This enables enterprises using AWS infrastructure to make their AI agents accessible to agents running on other platforms, thereby creating the interoperability that enterprise architectures require. Market Convergence Accelerates Standards Adoption The Linux Foundation announcement represents the consolidation of previously competing approaches to agent interoperability. More than 100 technology companies now support the a2a protocol, expanding from the initial 50 partners when Google first launched the specification in April. Microsoft has integrated a2a support into Azure AI Foundry and enabled a2a agent invocation through Copilot Studio. This integration allows enterprises already committed to Microsoft's AI toolchain to participate in multi-vendor agent workflows without replacing existing investments. Salesforce contributed the Agent Card concept that became central to a2a's capability discovery mechanism. The company positions agent interoperability as essential for reaching what it terms 'Level 4 multi-agent orchestration,' where specialized agents collaborate across enterprise systems. The convergence creates particular implications for Cisco's AGNTCY initiative, which has been developing infrastructure for what it calls the 'Internet of Agents'. Rather than competing with a2a, Cisco is integrating a2a support directly into AGNTCY's core components including the Directory, Identity, SLIM Messaging and Observability frameworks. This approach transforms AGNTCY from a potential competing standard into complementary infrastructure that enhances a2a's capabilities. Strategic Implications for Technology Decision Makers The Linux Foundation's governance model offers vendor neutrality, addressing enterprise concerns about being locked into proprietary ecosystems. Technology leaders can invest in a2a implementations with confidence that the protocol will evolve through community input rather than single-vendor control. Standardization creates opportunities for enterprises to implement modular AI strategies, where specialized agents from different vendors can collaborate on complex workflows. For example, a customer service workflow might combine Salesforce agents for CRM interactions, ServiceNow agents for incident management and AWS agents for data analysis, all coordinating through a2a protocols. However, successful implementation requires careful architectural planning. Enterprises need to establish agent governance frameworks, implement monitoring capabilities and develop policies for inter-agent data sharing before deploying production systems. The protocol provides the technical foundation, but organizational readiness determines success. Technology leaders should evaluate their current integration capabilities and security postures before committing to multi-agent architectures. While a2a reduces technical barriers to agent interoperability, it does not eliminate the need for robust data governance, identity management and compliance frameworks that enterprise AI deployments require.
Channel Post MEA
24-06-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
UAE's Technology Innovation Institute Joins OpenSTX Foundation
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of the Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), today announced its founding membership in the newly launched OpenSTX Foundation, a global initiative hosted by the Linux Foundation. The OpenSTX Foundation aims to establish a vendor-neutral, open industry standard for Synchronous Transmissions (STX), a transformative wireless protocol designed to deliver ultra-reliable, secure, and energy-efficient communications for industrial applications. The OpenSTX Foundation brings together a coalition of global academic and industry leaders to standardize next-generation STX protocols. These protocols enable multiple devices to transmit simultaneously with precise synchronization, significantly improving network reliability, reducing latency, and optimizing power usage. Such capabilities are essential for emerging applications in industrial IoT, smart cities, real-time asset tracking, and emergency response systems. The initiative holds particular promise for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, where the rapid growth of industrial and smart infrastructure projects demands resilient and scalable wireless systems. Michael Baddeley, Principal Researcher at TII and Chairperson of the OpenSTX Foundation, said: 'When launching the OpenSTX Foundation, we were looking for a platform that could support both rigorous technical collaboration and global inclusivity. The Linux Foundation gave us exactly that—a proven framework for open, vendor-neutral standards that empowers contributors across academia, startups, and global enterprises. It's the right foundation for scaling STX into an industrial-grade wireless standard.' The Foundation's steering committee brings contributors from Graz University of Technology, Imperial College London, University of Trento, SKF CNEA, RedNodeLabs, Fly4Future, and Technische Universität Darmstadt, combining deep expertise from both academia and industry. TII's involvement reinforces its mission to drive innovations and solidify Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub and center of excellence for technological development. The OpenSTX Foundation welcomes industry players, researchers, and engineers to participate in shaping the future of wireless communications.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Linux Foundation Report Finds Organizations Embrace Upskilling and Open Source to Meet AI-driven Job Demands
Data reveals 94% of organizations expect AI to add significant value to operations; expanding AI-specific roles to workforce DENVER, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Source Summit North America -- The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, today released its 2025 State of Tech Talent report in collaboration with LF Research and Linux Foundation Education. Based on insights from more than 500 global hiring and training leaders, the report highlights AI's growing influence on tech roles, preparedness for the workplace shift, and leveraging open source and upskilling to meet new demands. "Organizations are realizing that moving from pilot programs to widespread AI success depends not on access to tools but on having a workforce equipped to use them effectively. A recent report by BCG's AI practice notes that 70% of AI transformation is determined by the people and the processes supporting it," said Clyde Seepersad, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Linux Foundation Education. "The 2025 State of Tech Talent report reflects what we're seeing in the industry – a growing recognition that investing in training and hands-on experience is not just a talent strategy, it's a business strategy. The organizations making the biggest strides in AI implementation are those treating upskilling as a core capability, not a side initiative." AI Adoption Outpaces Capabilities and Widens the Skills GapAI is a game changer for many organizations, with 94% expecting AI to add significant value to their operations. However, less than half of organizations have the core AI skills necessary to adapt to the changing landscape, preventing them from achieving their full business and innovation potential. The report found that: 68% of organizations are lacking AI/ML skilled employees; an issue exacerbated by the ongoing staffing challenges in other areas like cybersecurity and compliance (65%), FinOps and cost optimization (61%), cloud computing (59%) and platform engineering (56%) 44% of respondents shared that the shortage of skilled workers is a major barrier to technology adoption Half of organizations surveyed report they are expanding their AI-specific workforce, hiring in new roles including AI/ML operations engineering leads (64%) and AI product managers (36%) "With the exponential increase of AI usage and heightened expectations for return on investment, comes the need for new skills – and new roles altogether," said Frank Nagle, Advising Chief Economist of the Linux Foundation. "But value is not derived just from the AI itself. The AI revolution is not just a technology acquisition race, but a catalyst for human capital transformation. In order to remain competitive in this new global landscape, organizations need to look at building their AI workforce from within." Making the Most of Changing Workflows with UpskillingEmerging technology and skills gaps are already impacting workflows. Two-thirds of organizations say AI has significantly changed how their teams work. Developers are increasingly required to validate AI-generated code, AI expertise is now expected for incoming hires, and many entry-level tasks are being automated by AI. In response, organizations are doubling down on upskilling. The report found that: 72% of respondents prioritize upskilling existing staff, up from just 48% in 2024 Upskilling is 62% faster than hiring new talent and technical training programs are 91% more effective at improving retention 71% of organizations consider certifications important when recruiting new talent, evidencing their role in validating professional competence 56% of organizations rely on upskilling over hiring or contracting to fill AI/ML skill needs Open Source: The Unexpected Employee Engagement and AI EnablerOpen source also plays a strategic role in AI implementation as 40% of respondents leverage open source frameworks, models and tools to accelerate AI adoption. The survey shows that organizations embracing open source practices see stronger employee retention and skill development, with 91% of organizations report technical training as an effective tool for talent retention and 84% say having an open source culture improves retention. Additionally, a report from the Linux Foundation and Meta, The Economic and Workforce Impacts of Open Source AI, shows that open source culture enables interorganizational collaboration, resulting in faster development of high-quality models and AI innovation. "The data is clear," said Seepersad. "AI is driving a sweeping shift in how technical work is done, and organizations that align their upskilling strategies with the realities of AI-driven workflows and enable open source collaboration will be best positioned to compete in the years ahead." Explore the full 2025 State of Tech Talent findings. To learn more about the Linux Foundation, please visit: About Linux Foundation EducationLinux Foundation Education provides best-in-class technology training through instructor-led and e-learning courses, workshops, and flexible subscription options. Our offerings also include a constantly expanding library of microlearning resources—such as videos, microcourses, and case studies—designed to fit into busy schedules. Our globally recognized certifications meet rigorous industry standards, giving recipients a trusted way to demonstrate their capabilities. Backed by an exceptional customer success team, we offer responsive support and tailored training solutions that empower both individuals and organizations to thrive. About Linux Foundation ResearchFounded in 2021, Linux Foundation Research explores the growing scale of open source collaboration, providing insight into emerging technology trends, best practices, and the global impact of open source projects. By leveraging project databases and networks and committing to best practices in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, Linux Foundation Research is creating the go-to library for open source insights for the benefit of organizations worldwide. About the Linux FoundationThe Linux Foundation is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, hardware, standards, and data. Linux Foundation projects are critical to the world's infrastructure, including Linux, Kubernetes, LF Decentralized Trust, ONAP, OpenChain, OpenSSF, PyTorch, RISC-V, SPDX, Zephyr, and more. The Linux Foundation focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at For a list of trademarks of the Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media ContactKristi PiechnikThe Linux Foundationkpiechnik@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Linux Foundation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
TECHx
23-06-2025
- Business
- TECHx
TII Abu Dhabi Joins OpenSTX Foundation for Wireless Standard
Home » Emerging technologies » Networking » TII Abu Dhabi Joins OpenSTX Foundation for Wireless Standards The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of TII Abu Dhabi Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), announced its founding membership in the newly launched OpenSTX Foundation. Hosted by the Linux Foundation, the OpenSTX Foundation is a global initiative that aims to develop a vendor-neutral, open standard for Synchronous Transmissions (STX). This advanced wireless protocol is designed to enable ultra-reliable, secure, and energy-efficient communications for industrial use. The OpenSTX Foundation brings together leading academic and industry players to create standardized next-generation STX protocols. These protocols support multiple devices transmitting simultaneously with precise synchronization. This improves network reliability, reduces latency, and optimizes energy usage. Such capabilities are seen as crucial for: Industrial IoT applications Smart cities and real-time asset tracking Emergency response systems The initiative is expected to benefit the Middle East and Africa region, where smart infrastructure is rapidly expanding and requires robust wireless systems. Michael Baddeley, Principal Researcher at TII and Chairperson of the OpenSTX Foundation, stated that the Linux Foundation provides the ideal platform for global and inclusive collaboration. The foundation's steering committee includes contributors from Graz University of Technology, Imperial College London, University of Trento, SKF CNEA, RedNodeLabs, Fly4Future, and Technische Universität Darmstadt. TII's participation supports its mission to drive innovation and strengthen Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for advanced technology. The OpenSTX Foundation encourages participation from industry experts, researchers, and engineers to shape the future of wireless communication.
