The agentic internet is coming. AI companies are racing to build the digital rails first.

A transformative era of the internet is on the horizon, shifting focus from traditional interactions to AI agents—autonomous software that operates on users' behalf. These agents can perform tasks such as booking flights, managing workflows, and even making purchases, all without user intervention. As this new era unfolds, major technology players are racing to establish the foundational technology that will support it. According to the latest Bytes report from Cantor Fitzgerald, the past few months have witnessed significant advancements in the protocols necessary for these AI agents to function seamlessly across various platforms. Much like the historical development of railroads and other groundbreaking technologies, the current competition is centered around defining the essential frameworks of this emerging digital economy. Leading companies, including Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic, are laying the groundwork to secure their positions in this evolving landscape. The implications of this competition are profound. Analysts from Cantor stress that establishing standards will be crucial for long-term success. Just as Google and Apple created robust ecosystems during the web and mobile app revolutions, the first movers in defining protocols for this agentic future are likely to reap substantial rewards. Historically, the web was structured with HTML and utilized hyperlinks, while security was maintained through SSL certificates. Similarly, in the mobile landscape, apps were developed using native programming languages and communicated via deep links. In contrast, the agentic era is emerging with an entirely new technological stack. AI agents will manage user intent through frameworks such as OpenAI's Agents SDK and Google's Vertex ADK, which prioritize communication over traditional clicks. One of the critical developments is Google's Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol, designed for secure and structured communication between AI agents that represent users and those representing merchants. Launched in April, A2A is positioning itself as a foundational protocol for this new internet, akin to HTTP for traditional web browsing. In parallel, Anthropic has introduced the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which connects agents to essential backend systems, thereby streamlining processes that previously relied on a complex web of APIs. Google has also announced AP2, a payments protocol tailored for agents, aimed at addressing trust and fraud issues while empowering AI agents to execute transactions autonomously. Recently, Cloudflare revealed plans to launch NET Dollar, a stablecoin backed by the US dollar, designed to facilitate secure transactions in this agentic web. This technological shift represents a fundamental rethinking of how online transactions occur. Instead of navigating through hyperlinks and authenticating with cookies, users will simply articulate their needs—like requesting a flight to Tokyo for under $1,000—and AI agents will handle the entire process, from querying databases to processing payments. While the adoption of this agentic framework is still in its infancy, analysts note that momentum is building. For developers, businesses, and investors, this could signal a monumental shift in the landscape of digital commerce as we transition into the age of AI. The race to establish dominance over this new agentic internet has begun.