Protocols for the AI Age: Unpacking MCP, A2A, and AP2

In this episode of The Second Brain AI Podcast, we dive into the protocols quietly wiring the agentic AI ecosystem. From MCP (Model Context Protocol) that lets models securely access tools, to A2A (Agent-to-Agent) that standardizes how agents collaborate, and AP2 (Agent Payments Protocol) that anchors transactions in cryptographic trust, these frameworks form the plumbing of the AI future.

We explore why interoperability is the real bottleneck, how these standards build a “digital delegation stack,” and why the future of trust in AI won’t rely on human oversight but on mathematical proof.