DeeperML - #nlweb

Microsoft has announced NLWeb, an open project aimed at transforming websites into AI-powered apps. This initiative seeks to simplify the creation of natural language interfaces for websites, enabling users to query site content using natural language, similar to interacting with an AI assistant. NLWeb leverages existing semi-structured formats like Schema.org and RSS, combining them with Large Language Model (LLM)-powered tools to create these interfaces.

Every NLWeb instance functions as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, allowing websites to make their content discoverable and accessible to AI agents. The project is technology agnostic, supporting all major operating systems, models, and vector databases. Microsoft envisions NLWeb playing a role similar to HTML in the emerging agentic web, empowering web publishers to participate on their terms and ensuring their websites can interact, transact, and be discovered by other agents.

NLWeb was conceived by R.V. Guha, a Microsoft CVP and Technical Fellow, who is also the creator of web standards like RSS and Schema.org. Early adopters, including TripAdvisor, Shopify, Eventbrite, Hearst, and O’Reilly, have already implemented NLWeb for various use cases, such as restaurant discovery and e-commerce product searches, all powered by conversational interfaces. Microsoft hopes NLWeb's open approach will foster widespread adoption, leading to a decentralized, agent-ready web.


References :

• Shelly Palmer: Microsoft’s New NLWeb
• Ken Yeung: Microsoft Edge Lets Developers Add AI to Web Apps Without the Cloud
• news.microsoft.com: Introducing NLWeb: Bringing conversational interfaces directly to the web
• Ken Yeung: Microsoft’s NLWeb Project Turns Websites into Conversational Interfaces for AI Agents
• blogs.microsoft.com: Microsoft Build 2025: The age of AI agents and building the open agentic web
• AI Rabbit Blog: Beyond Google & Perplexity: How NLWeb Aims to Connect Your Site Directly to AI
• shellypalmer.com: Microsoft's New NLWeb
• AI News | VentureBeat: Microsoft's NLWeb protocol transforms websites into AI-powered applications with conversational interfaces, effectively turning them into interactive apps.
• Microsoft Research: Microsoft's NLWeb protocol transforms websites into AI-powered applications with conversational interfaces, effectively turning them into interactive apps.
• www.techradar.com: Microsoft's NLWeb protocol transforms websites into AI-powered applications with conversational interfaces, effectively turning them into interactive apps.

Classification:

• HashTags: #NLWeb #ConversationalAI #MicrosoftAI
• Company: Microsoft
• Target: Website Users
• Product: NLWeb
• Feature: Conversational interface
• Type: AI
• Severity: Informative