#United States #San Francisco #Model Context Protocol #Agentic AI Foundation #open source AI

The Launch of the Agentic AI Foundation

On December 9, 2025, the Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering innovation through open source software, announced the creation of the Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF). This new initiative consolidates efforts from notable industry players such as Anthropic, Block, and OpenAI, bringing together three significant contributions that aim to enhance open-source artificial intelligence (AI): the Model Context Protocol (MCP), goose, and AGENTS.md.

A New Era of AI

The introduction of agentic AI is a pivotal moment, promising to redefine how AI systems make autonomous decisions and collaborate across various platforms. The AAIF's mission is to ensure that this essential technology evolves in a manner that is transparent and beneficial for all, encouraging the adoption of innovative, open-source AI projects. With its inaugural offerings, AGENTS.md, goose, and MCP, the foundation lays the groundwork for a collaborative and community-driven ecosystem of tools and standards.

According to Jim Zemlin, Executive Director of the Linux Foundation, "AI is transitioning into a new phase where conversational systems evolve into autonomous agents capable of collaboration. In just one year, MCP, AGENTS.md, and goose have become vital tools for developers focused on these revolutionary technologies. Uniting these projects under the AAIF guarantees their growth within an open governance framework, promoting stability and transparency. The Linux Foundation is proud to provide a neutral platform for continued development essential for the global AI infrastructure."

Key Contributions to AAIF

Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Launched by Anthropic just a year prior, MCP has rapidly gained recognition as the standard protocol for linking AI models with various tools, data, and applications. It boasts over 10,000 published MCP servers that span from developer tools to Fortune 500 enterprises. Major AI platforms including Claude, Cursor, Microsoft Copilot, and ChatGPT have integrated MCP into their systems, valuing its straightforward incorporation and robust security measures.

Mike Krieger, Chief Product Officer at Anthropic, shared, "MCP started as a solution to an internal challenge. After open sourcing it last November, we hoped it would be beneficial for other developers too. A year later, it has evolved into the industry-standard protocol for AI integrations. By donating MCP to the Linux Foundation through the AAIF, we ensure it remains open and community-oriented as it becomes a cornerstone for AI infrastructure."

Goose

Developed and introduced by Block in early 2025, goose is an open-source, local-first AI agent framework. It effectively marries language models and tools under the MCP standard for dependable agentic workflows. Block, known for its products such as Square and Cash App, identifies goose as a crucial step towards advancing agentic AI safely and consistently.

Manik Surtani, Head of Open Source at Block, stated, "As we stand at a crucial junction for AI, the technology that will define the next decade must be rooted in open standards that benefit the broader community. Our contributions to the AAIF, including goose, affirm our commitment to fostering this merit-based approach to AI development."

AGENTS.md

OpenAI introduced AGENTS.md in August 2025, establishing a universal standard that offers AI coding agents a reliable source of project-specific guidance. This markdown-based protocol enhances predictability across different repositories and systems, having already been embraced by over 60,000 open-source projects and agent frameworks.

Nick Cooper, a member of OpenAI's technical staff, expressed, "For AI agents to succeed, developers need trustworthy infrastructure. By co-founding the AAIF and contributing AGENTS.md, we are reinforcing open practices that enhance the predictability and safety of AI agent development."

Membership and Community Engagement

The AAIF has attracted numerous prominent members, with platinum-tier participants including Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft. This diverse consortium underscores a shared vision for innovation driven by open governance and collaboration.

In conjunction with the AAIF launch, member Obot.ai has pledged its MCP Dev Summit events and podcast to the foundation. The next MCP Dev Summit is scheduled for April 2-3, 2026, in New York City, with further details available through the Linux Foundation's website.

For those interested in engaging with the AAIF, additional information and membership opportunities can be found at AAIF.io and on their GitHub page.

Conclusion

The establishment of the Agentic AI Foundation marks a significant milestone in the evolution of AI technology. With collaborative efforts and contributions from leading players in the industry, the AAIF is well-positioned to influence the future of AI, ensuring it remains open, innovative, and accessible for all.