Microsoft Charts New Course for AI with Agentic Web Vision
Microsoft aims to create an “agentic web” where AI agents from various companies work together seamlessly and retain extensive conversation histories. This vision, presented by CTO Kevin Scott ahead of the Build 2025 conference, highlights open standards and enhanced memory as key building blocks for future AI tools.
Proposals from Microsoft
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Collaboration Protocols: Microsoft supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), initiated by Anthropic and backed by Google, to enable AI agents to interact with each other much like web services do today.
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Framework Development: MCP could serve as a pivotal protocol for agent communication, enabling developers to create complex AI workflows with agents from different vendors.
The Importance of Memory
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Beyond Simple Interactions: Current AI agents often forget past interactions. Microsoft envisions agents that can remember context across sessions, enhancing user experience.
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User Benefits: Persistent memory allows agents to understand user preferences and provide proactive suggestions rather than just reactive responses.
Build 2025 Considerations for Developers
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Unified Development Kits: New SDK extensions will support MCP, simplifying cross-vendor agent integration.
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Memory Management: Developers will have access to libraries that manage memory securely and efficiently for user data.
Financial Backing for Innovation
Microsoft’s strong financial position allows it to invest heavily in open-source standards and developer tools. With a AA+ corporate rating and over $130 billion in cash, the company has the resources necessary for sustained innovation.
Summary
Microsoft’s ambitious vision could significantly reshape AI interactions and development, highlighting the potential for improved collaboration among AI tools.