MCP (Model Context Protocol)
The USB-C of AI: one standard connector for tools and data.
The analogy
There was a time when every device had its own charger and we lived surrounded by incompatible cables. USB-C unified it all. MCP does the same for AI: one standard “plug” to connect a model to your apps, files and services, without inventing a new cable every time.
In detail
The Model Context Protocol is an open protocol (published by Anthropic in 2024) that standardizes how applications expose tools, resources and prompts to models. It uses a client-server architecture: an MCP server offers capabilities (reading files, querying a database…) and any compatible client can use them.
An example
You install an MCP server for your calendar and another for your task manager. Now you can tell your assistant: “check my schedule for tomorrow and create tasks to prepare for each meeting” — and it will, using both.