Vinton Cerf, Google’s chief internet evangelist, is retiring after a 20-year stint at the company, marking the end of an influential career in tech. Cerf, 83, is credited with developing the internet’s foundational protocols, including TCP/IP. He’s been recognized with numerous awards for his work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As he steps down, Cerf predicts that the rise of AI agents will drive the need for standardized protocols, potentially giving companies that define these standards significant influence over the future of AI. Why it matters: Cerf’s insights into the future of AI and the need for standardized protocols highlight the ongoing importance of his work in shaping the internet and its potential impact on the development of AI systems.