How Google Uses JWT

Google Cloud API Gateway now acts as a native remote Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, eliminating the need to build and maintain custom middleware to expose REST APIs to AI agents. By simply adding specific annotations (like x-google-api-management.mcp) to existing OpenAPI 3.x specifications, developers can instantly convert standard REST operations into discoverable, agent-ready tools. The gateway automatically transcodes incoming MCP JSON-RPC requests into REST calls, ensuring that your existing authentication, quotas, and logging policies apply seamlessly to agent traffic without requiring new infrastructure.

This blog post introduces a suite of six protocols, such as MCP and A2A, designed to eliminate custom integration code by standardizing how AI agents access data and communicate. Using a "kitchen manager" agent as a practical example, it demonstrates how these tools handle complex tasks like real-time inventory checks, wholesale commerce via UCP, and secure payment authorization through AP2. By leveraging the Agent Development Kit (ADK), developers can also implement A2UI and AG-UI to deliver interactive dashboards and seamless streaming interfaces to users.

The article discusses the importance of protecting sensitive data during processing in cloud environments, introducing Google Cloud's Confidential Space as a solution.