The Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol from Microsoft emerged as a game-changer this week, creating a common language for AI systems to collaborate across different platforms. Like giving all robots the same instruction manual, this could let warehouse inventory bots talk directly to delivery scheduling systems without human help. Microsoft compared it to “email for machines” during their Reactor livestream demo.

IBM’s watsonx tools unveiled at Think 2025 focus on enterprise AI teams, with new features for training agent groups in complex supply chain management. One demo showed agents negotiating shipping routes during a simulated port strike, balancing cost and delivery speed automatically.

Workday’s blog highlighted best practices learned from early adopters. Their ant colony analogy stressed the need for clear roles—like designating some agents as “scouts” to find data errors while others focus on routine tasks. They warned against deploying too many agents without proper testing, sharing a case where overlapping AI orders caused a retail stock outage.

At The AI Summit London, speakers predicted multi-agent systems will soon manage moon base construction crews and hospital emergency rooms. One panel showed prototype surgery teams where diagnostic agents work with robot arm controllers and patient monitoring systems in real-time.

Microsoft’s Azure demo illustrated real-time problem-solving, where delivery route agents rerouted trucks within seconds of a bridge closure alert. The system automatically checked weather apps, traffic cameras, and warehouse schedules without human input.

Security saw big strides with Bright Security launching tools to scan AI-written code for vulnerabilities. Their demo found a flaw where shopping cart agents could accidentally reveal customer data—a critical fix for e-commerce systems. TufinMate’s new network troubleshooting agent acts like an IT helper, understanding chat messages like “Why is the payment system slow?” and checking servers automatically.

Low-code tools are making these systems more accessible. Tray.ai showed a drag-and-drop system where users can connect ChatGPT to inventory databases without programming. Meanwhile, Google Cloud demoed agents that build entire cloud systems through voice commands, suggesting this technology might soon be used in schools or small businesses.

Challenges remain—conference panels debated how to validate AI team decisions, especially in healthcare. MIT researchers proposed “audit trail” systems that track which agent made each choice during patient diagnosis. As these systems spread, balancing power with safety will be crucial for gaining public trust.