Could Microsoft kill the web browser at Build? Everything developers need to know about the NLWeb Protocol (www.techradar.com)

At Microsoft Build 2025, the company unveiled the NLWeb Protocol, a significant advancement aimed at transforming how websites respond to user queries. NLWeb, short for Natural Language Web, is an open-source initiative that empowers websites to accept natural language requests directly, effectively bypassing traditional search engines. By leveraging structured data formats like Schema.org and RSS, NLWeb allows websites to function as AI-powered applications, enhancing both user experience and accessibility of information. The protocol is built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which allows external AI agents to seamlessly interact with and query site content. This development is particularly noteworthy for the AI/ML community as it represents a shift toward a more integrated web, where AI agents can retrieve and manipulate data in real-time. With early adopters such as Shopify and TripAdvisor, NLWeb offers a new standard for developers to consider, moving beyond generic query responses to a dynamic interaction model that supports follow-up questions and maintains session context. As non-browser interfaces gain traction, web developers may need to reassess how they structure their site data to optimize for NLWeb, blurring the lines between standard web pages and API functionality. With the upcoming Build 2026 conference, the spotlight will be on how NLWeb performs in real-world scenarios, potentially influencing its future adoption across the web ecosystem.