The Universal Remote Control for AI — Alex Hancock, Block

Alex Hancock discusses the need for a standardized protocol for client-to-agent communication in AI, similar to how MCP standardizes agent-to-tool interaction. He introduces the Agent Client Protocol (ACP), born from Zed and JetBrains, as a JSON RPC-based solution for client software to control agent harnesses, send tasks, and receive updates. Hancock demonstrates ACP's flexibility with multiple clients driving a single agent and highlights how its new remote transport capability, combined with MCP and model APIs, enables independent placement of all agentic stack components, fostering a competitive ecosystem that will significantly enhance user experience.