One of the architects of the modern Internet is preparing to step away from one of the technology industry's most influential roles.

Vinton Cerf, widely recognised as one of the "Fathers of the Internet," will retire from Google next week after serving as the company's Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist for more than two decades. His retirement marks the end of a career that helped lay the technical foundation for the Internet billions of people rely on today.

The announcement was made during the Open Frontier conference, where computer scientist and UC Berkeley professor Dave Patterson recognised Cerf's contributions and confirmed that he would be leaving Google after more than 20 years with the company.

Cerf, now 83, co-developed the TCP/IP networking protocols alongside Robert Kahn in the 1970s. Those protocols became the universal standard that allows computers and networks around the world to communicate with one another, effectively creating the foundation of today's Internet.

Since joining Google in 2005, Cerf has served as the company's Chief Internet Evangelist, helping shape Internet policy, promote open Internet standards, and advocate for the future of global connectivity. Throughout his career, he has received some of technology's highest honours, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Turing Award.

Internet Standards Still Matter in the AI Era

Although Cerf is retiring, he believes one of the biggest technology challenges ahead will be ensuring artificial intelligence systems can communicate effectively with one another.

Speaking during the conference, Cerf argued that the growing adoption of AI agents will eventually require common standards that allow systems developed by different companies to interact reliably.

According to him, relying solely on natural language communication between AI systems could introduce ambiguity and increase the risk of misunderstandings, making formal interoperability standards increasingly important as AI becomes more autonomous.

A Legacy That Shaped the Digital World

Cerf's retirement closes a chapter that stretches back more than five decades to the earliest days of computer networking.

His work helped transform isolated computer networks into the globally connected Internet that powers modern communication, cloud computing, digital commerce, artificial intelligence, and countless online services.

While the technology industry continues to shift towards AI, Cerf's career serves as a reminder that the protocols and standards developed decades ago remain the invisible infrastructure supporting today's digital economy.

As Google prepares to bid farewell to one of its longest-serving technology leaders, Cerf leaves behind a legacy that continues to influence virtually every aspect of the connected world.