NIST launches AI Agent Standards Initiative to support interoperability and security
The US National Institute of Standards and Technology has announced a new initiative aimed at developing industry-led standards and research to support secure and interoperable AI agents.
The Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced the launch of the AI Agent Standards Initiative. The programme focuses on the development of technical standards and research to support the secure and interoperable deployment of AI agents.
AI agents are systems designed to perform tasks autonomously, such as managing communications, writing or debugging code, or interacting with online services. As these systems become more capable, questions have emerged about their ability to securely access external platforms, interact with digital infrastructure, and operate reliably across different environments.
According to NIST, the initiative will be developed in coordination with federal partners, including NIST’s Information Technology Laboratory and the National Science Foundation. The effort is structured around three areas: supporting industry-led development of AI agent standards and participation in international standards bodies; encouraging open-source protocol development; and advancing research on AI agent security and identity management.
In the coming months, NIST plans to publish research outputs and guidelines related to the initiative. The agency has also opened opportunities for public input, including a Request for Information on AI agent security and a concept paper on AI agent identity and authorisation. Listening sessions focused on sector-specific barriers to AI agent adoption are scheduled to begin in April.
