Standards
AI agents2
Model Context Protocol
Connects AI assistants to tools and data: a server exposes tools, a client (an assistant or agent) calls them.
Anthropic, now an open project under the Linux FoundationEvidence: vendor docs
Agent2AgentLets agents from different vendors discover each other and hand work back and forth.
Google, now an open project under the Linux FoundationEvidence: A2A partners page and vendor docs
Model APIs and runtimes2
OpenAI-compatible API
An endpoint that accepts OpenAI SDK requests, so switching providers is a base URL and a key.
De facto standard set by OpenAI's Chat Completions APIEvidence: vendor docs
ONNXAn open format for machine learning models, run by ONNX Runtime and many engines.
LF AI and Data FoundationEvidence: vendor docs
Telemetry and lineage2
Table formats3
Apache Iceberg
The open table format for large analytic tables on object storage, with a REST catalog protocol.
Apache Software FoundationEvidence: Iceberg vendors page and vendor docs
Delta LakeAn open table format with ACID transactions on Parquet files, started at Databricks.
Linux Foundation (Delta Lake project)Evidence: Delta Lake integrations and vendor docs
Apache HudiAn open table format and lakehouse platform built for upserts, deletes and incremental processing.
Apache Software FoundationEvidence: vendor docs
File and memory formats2
Query languages1
Identity and sign-in3
SPIFFE
Workload identity: short-lived, verifiable identities (SVIDs) for services, with SPIRE as the reference implementation.
CNCFEvidence: vendor docs
OAuth 2.0 and OpenID ConnectDelegated authorization and single sign-on: the protocols behind "Sign in with" buttons and SSO for business software.
IETF (OAuth 2.0) and the OpenID Foundation (OpenID Connect)Evidence: vendor docs
FIDO2 and passkeysPhishing-resistant sign-in with passkeys and security keys, built on WebAuthn and CTAP.
FIDO Alliance and W3C (WebAuthn)Evidence: vendor docs
Provenance and supply chain3
C2PA Content Credentials
Signed provenance for images, video and audio: who made a file, with which tools, and whether AI was involved.
Coalition for Content Provenance and AuthenticityEvidence: vendor docs
SPDXThe software bill of materials format for packages, files, licenses and their relationships.
Linux Foundation (ISO/IEC 5962:2021)Evidence: vendor docs
CycloneDXA bill of materials standard for software, services, AI models (ML-BOM) and hardware.
OWASP and Ecma International (ECMA-424)Evidence: vendor docs