MCP
Also called Model Context Protocol
A standard plug so any AI can talk to your tools and data without a custom integration each time.
Think of it like
USB-C for AI — one connector instead of a junk drawer of adapters.
Example
Point an assistant at an MCP server for your calendar and it can read your schedule with no bespoke code.
How it actually works
It defines how a model discovers tools, calls them, and gets results back. Boring plumbing on purpose — that boringness is what lets the whole agent ecosystem interoperate instead of everyone reinventing the same wiring.
For product teams
A standard that lets any AI plug into your tools without custom builds — faster integrations, less lock-in.
For engineers
An open protocol for tool/data discovery and invocation between a model host and external servers.
Related
- Agents — What makes agents actually useful in the real world.
Read anything AI without the jargon
Look up any term in plain English, or save terms as you read with the free Chrome extension.
Open DecoderAdd to Chrome