AI Innovations: Google's A2A, Anthropic's MCP, and Outset's Rise in Market Research

Tech giants like Google and Anthropic are advancing AI communication protocols, such as Google's Agent2Agent (A2A) and Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP), to facilitate interactions among autonomous AI agents on the internet. While these initiatives could streamline processes like job recruitment and coding collaborations, concerns exist about big tech dominating the space and creating digital "walled gardens." In response, grassroots efforts led by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), including Gaowei Chang's open-source Agent Network Protocol (ANP), aim to keep the internet open and accessible for smaller players. The W3C emphasizes the need for collaborative, industry-wide standards to ensure AI technologies benefit everyone without favoritism towards major corporations. (Source)

Axiom, a novel machine learning system from Verse AI, draws on human brain-inspired principles to efficiently master simple video games. Unlike traditional neural networks reliant on deep reinforcement learning, Axiom uses active inference, equipped with prior knowledge of object interactions, to model game responses, requiring less computation. This approach is based on Karl Friston's free energy principle, aiming to build AI agents that learn efficiently from experience rather than mimic existing examples. Supported by positive feedback from experts like François Chollet, Axiom is considered a potential step toward artificial general intelligence (AGI) by offering an efficient, real-time learning process, distinguishing itself from conventional models. Gabe René, CEO of Verses, notes that the architecture provides a more compact, accurate alternative to current AI, with one finance company already experimenting with its market-modeling capabilities. Despite its deviation from traditional deep learning, Axiom’s development connects back to Geoffrey Hinton's foundational work on deep learning, illustrating an academic lineage with Friston. (Source)

Jason Kim, co-founder and CEO of Big Whale Labs, highlights the transformative role of AI agents in the digital assets space, addressing its complex user experience. Unlike traditional bots, these agents automate tasks like rebalancing portfolios and tracking assets across various blockchains, making asset management intuitive and efficient. Companies like Griffian AI and Moralis Copilot showcase how AI simplifies interactions with digital currencies, moving from self-custody to self-delegation. The open network infrastructure fuels this evolution by providing necessary transparency and composability. However, as enterprises integrate AI agents into workflows, the need for robust security measures and clear accountability becomes paramount. This shift, underscored by reports from Deloitte and McKinsey, signifies a future where AI agents redefine business operations, demanding new approaches to digital agency and responsibility. (Source)

Y Combinator's inaugural spring 2025 cohort prominently features startups specializing in "agentic" AI, autonomous software capable of independent task execution. Of the 144 companies in this batch, 70 focus on AI agents, highlighting Y Combinator's strong interest in artificial intelligence. Each participating company benefits from a $500,000 investment as part of a rigorous three-month program in San Francisco, known for nurturing successful alumni like Stripe and Airbnb. This diverse cohort applies agentic AI across various industries, including cybersecurity, fintech, and healthcare, showcasing technologies such as consumer assistance for mortgage applications and innovative enhancements for robotics. (Source)

Outset, a San Francisco-based startup, has secured $17 million in Series A funding to boost the adoption of its AI-moderated research platform among Fortune 500 enterprises. Led by venture capital firm 8VC and backed by Future Back Ventures and other existing investors, this funding aims to enhance Outset's reach and technology, offering a transformative alternative to traditional market research methods. Major clients like Nestlé and Microsoft leverage Outset to conduct faster and more cost-effective market research at scale, achieving up to 81% cost reductions and significantly accelerating timelines. Outset's platform uses AI moderators for video interviews, yielding results that are eight times faster and ten times more extensive than traditional methods. CEO Aaron Cannon highlights the platform’s potential to democratize customer insights across organizations, as evidenced by rapid revenue growth and a clear disruption in the traditional market research landscape. As AI research capabilities advance, Outset is poised to become a critical infrastructure for decision-making, aiming for more than fivefold revenue growth and a central role within 20% of the Fortune 1000 in the next year. (Source)