Cisco donates AGNTCY to Linux Foundation: Internet of Agents on its way?

Cisco Donates AGNTCY to Linux Foundation: What Does That Mean for the Internet of Agents?

AI agents are emerging rapidly, but ensuring they collaborate effectively is a complex challenge. AGNTCY, developed by Outshift—Cisco’s incubator—is an open-source framework designed to enable seamless cooperation among AI agents. Recently, Cisco donated the entire AGNTCY stack to the Linux Foundation to foster neutral, community-driven growth.

The Vision Behind AGNTCY

The rise of AI agents places new demands on infrastructure. While a single AI agent can perform specific tasks well, the real power lies in agents working together. To enable this collaboration, agents must communicate and access relevant data efficiently. Two protocols are fundamental here:

• Agent-to-Agent (A2A) Protocol: Enables communication between agents.
• Model Context Protocol (MCP) Servers: Allow AI models and agents to access the right data.
However, these protocols alone are insufficient. A comprehensive framework is needed to manage the complexity and non-deterministic nature of AI agents.

What is AGNTCY?

AGNTCY is Cisco Outshift’s open-source, open-spec framework envisioned as the "Internet of Agents." It addresses key questions such as:
• How to find the best-suited agents for a task?
• How to bring agents together into workflows?
• How to assign and manage agent identities?
Vijoy Pandey, SVP/GM of Outshift, described AGNTCY as a foundational framework to enable collaborative AI agent systems.

Core Components of AGNTCY

Outshift has developed several key components within AGNTCY:
• Agent Discovery: Functions like a DNS for agents, allowing them to find and understand each other's capabilities to form workflows.
• Agent Identity: Provides task-based identities to agents, restricting them to authorized tasks.
• Agent Messaging: Uses Secure Low-latency Interactive Messaging (SLIM) for quantum-safe, low-latency communication across agents, people, and tools.
• Agent Observability: Offers visibility and insight into complex agent workflows.
• Protocol Integration: Ensures compatibility with A2A and MCP protocols.

Why the Linux Foundation?

By donating AGNTCY to the Linux Foundation, Cisco aims to leverage the neutral governance and broad community support that have propelled projects like Kubernetes and PyTorch to industry standards. This move is expected to accelerate AGNTCY’s development and adoption beyond Cisco’s ecosystem.

Growing Industry Support

AGNTCY has attracted significant interest. Formative members at the Linux Foundation include Dell Technologies, Galileo, Google Cloud, Oracle, Red Hat, and Cisco. Over 75 members have contributed to the project, underscoring the collaborative nature required to build a robust Internet of Agents. This collective effort is essential, as no single company can manage the complexity and governance of such a framework alone. The Linux Foundation provides the ideal neutral home for this multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Cisco’s Continued Commitment

Cisco has no plans to reduce its involvement. The Outshift teams working on AGNTCY will continue their efforts, ensuring ongoing innovation and support.

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Read also: After AIOps, now there is AgenticOps: what is it and what can you do with it?

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Source: Cisco donates AGNTCY to Linux Foundation: Internet of Agents on its way? on July 30, 2025

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is AGNTCY?

AGNTCY is an open-source, open-specification framework developed by Cisco's Outshift incubator. It is designed to facilitate seamless cooperation and collaboration among AI agents, aiming to create an "Internet of Agents."

What problem does AGNTCY aim to solve?

The primary goal of AGNTCY is to address the challenges of enabling AI agents to collaborate effectively. This includes issues like finding suitable agents for specific tasks, integrating them into workflows, and managing their identities and communication.

What are the core components of AGNTCY?

AGNTCY comprises several key components: Agent Discovery (for finding agent capabilities), Agent Identity (for managing agent roles), Agent Messaging (using SLIM for secure, low-latency communication), Agent Observability (for monitoring workflows), and Protocol Integration (ensuring compatibility with A2A and MCP protocols).

Why was the Linux Foundation chosen as the home for AGNTCY?

Cisco donated AGNTCY to the Linux Foundation to benefit from its neutral governance and extensive community support. This move is intended to accelerate the development and adoption of AGNTCY, making it an industry standard.

What is the significance of the "Internet of Agents"?

The "Internet of Agents" refers to a future where AI agents can work together autonomously and efficiently to perform complex tasks, much like how the internet connects people and information today. AGNTCY is a foundational technology for realizing this vision.

Which companies are involved in the AGNTCY project at the Linux Foundation?

Formative members and contributors to AGNTCY include Dell Technologies, Galileo, Google Cloud, Oracle, Red Hat, and Cisco, indicating broad industry support for the initiative. ##Crypto Market AI's Take The donation of AGNTCY to the Linux Foundation by Cisco is a significant step towards building a more interconnected and collaborative AI ecosystem. This move aligns with the growing trend of open-source development in AI, fostering innovation and broader adoption. For those interested in the intersection of AI and finance, particularly within the cryptocurrency space, understanding frameworks like AGNTCY is crucial. Our platform, AI Crypto Market, leverages cutting-edge AI to provide insights and tools for navigating the complexities of the digital asset market. By understanding how AI agents can collaborate, we can better appreciate the potential for AI-driven trading bots and market analysis tools to evolve. ##More to Read:
• What is AgenticOps?
• AI Agents: Capabilities, Risks, and Growing Role
• The Future of Business Automation with AI Agents