Building an “Agentic Web” for Seamless AI Interaction and Smarter Conversations
- Microsoft is pushing for AI agents from different companies to collaborate using open standards like the Model Context Protocol (MCP), aiming to create an interconnected “agentic web.
- “At the Build conference in Seattle on May 19, the company is set to unveil new tools for developers, focusing on enhancing AI capabilities and interoperability.
- Microsoft is also working on improving AI memory through innovative techniques like structured retrieval augmentation, addressing the high costs of memory-intensive systems while making interactions less transactional.
Microsoft is charting a bold path for the future of artificial intelligence, envisioning a world where AI agents from various companies can seamlessly work together and remember past interactions with users more effectively. Speaking ahead of the company’s annual Build conference in Seattle on May 19, Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott shared insights into Microsoft’s ambitious plans at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington. With a focus on collaboration and memory enhancement, Microsoft aims to revolutionize how AI systems operate, making them more intuitive and interconnected. This vision, discussed with reporters and analysts, underscores the tech giant’s commitment to driving innovation in the AI landscape.
At the heart of Microsoft’s strategy is the push for interoperability among AI agents—specialized systems designed to perform specific tasks, such as debugging software, autonomously. Scott emphasized the importance of industry-wide standards that allow agents from different creators to collaborate effectively. Microsoft is throwing its weight behind the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open-source framework introduced by Anthropic, a company backed by Google. According to Scott, MCP could pave the way for an “agentic web,” a concept reminiscent of the hypertext protocols that fueled the internet’s explosive growth in the 1990s. This interconnected network of AI agents would not be dictated by a few dominant players but shaped by the collective imagination of developers and users worldwide. “It means that your imagination gets to drive what the agentic web becomes, not just a handful of companies that happen to see some of these problems first,” Scott explained.
The Build conference, a key event for developers, serves as the stage for Microsoft to unveil its latest tools and technologies aimed at advancing AI development. Analysts anticipate that the company will showcase innovations designed to empower developers to build more sophisticated AI systems. Beyond tools, Microsoft’s focus on fostering collaboration through protocols like MCP signals a broader mission to democratize AI technology. By advocating for open standards, the company hopes to create an ecosystem where AI agents, regardless of their origin, can work in harmony to solve complex problems. This approach could potentially transform industries, enabling more dynamic and responsive AI solutions that adapt to diverse needs.
Another critical aspect of Microsoft’s vision is enhancing the memory capabilities of AI agents. Scott noted that current AI interactions often feel “very transactional,” lacking the depth of continuity that comes with remembering past exchanges. To address this, Microsoft is exploring a novel method called structured retrieval augmentation. This technique involves extracting concise snippets from each turn in a conversation between a user and an AI agent, effectively creating a roadmap of the discussion. This roadmap allows the AI to recall relevant details without the need to process vast amounts of data repeatedly. Scott likened this process to how the human brain operates, stating, “This is a core part of how you train a biological brain—you don’t brute force everything in your head every time you need to solve a particular problem.” By mimicking this natural efficiency, Microsoft aims to make AI interactions more fluid and context-aware.
However, improving AI memory is not without challenges. Scott acknowledged that better memory requires significant computing power, which translates to higher costs. Microsoft’s innovative approach seeks to balance performance and affordability, ensuring that memory enhancements are sustainable for widespread adoption. This focus on efficiency could be a game-changer, allowing AI agents to maintain a sense of continuity in conversations without overwhelming computational resources. The result would be AI systems that feel less like one-off tools and more like reliable partners capable of building on past interactions to provide meaningful assistance.
Microsoft’s dual focus on collaboration and memory underscores a broader perspective on the role of AI in the future. By championing open standards like MCP, the company is laying the groundwork for a collaborative AI ecosystem that transcends corporate boundaries. Simultaneously, its efforts to enhance AI memory through structured retrieval augmentation address a fundamental limitation in current systems, paving the way for more personalized and effective interactions. As the Build conference unfolds, the tech community eagerly awaits the specific tools and announcements that will bring this vision to life. If successful, Microsoft’s initiatives could redefine how we interact with AI, creating a world where agents not only work together but also remember and learn from each encounter, much like we do.