AICP (AI Consumption Protocol) – Standardizing monetized AI access to open source

Summary: AICP introduces Freshness Gating to control AI access to open source documentation by offering stable previous versions for free and gating the latest versions behind Sponsor Tokens. This aligns incentives between maintainers and AI consumers, enabling sustainable open source support.

What it does

AICP uses aicp.json to implement Freshness Gating, allowing AI agents free access to stable N-1 docs while requiring Sponsor Tokens to unlock the latest stable N version. This differentiates access based on user type and maintains community availability.

Who it's for

It targets open source maintainers, AI tool developers, enterprises, students, and startups needing controlled AI consumption of documentation.

Why it matters

AICP addresses the unsustainable free consumption of maintainers’ work by AI, enabling monetization and preserving open source sustainability.