Model Context Protocol
Also called: MCP
An open standard for connecting AI applications to tools and data sources through one common interface.
MCP standardises how models discover and call external capabilities, so a tool built once works across any compatible client instead of being rewritten per vendor. Introduced by Anthropic in late 2024 and adopted more broadly since, it is the closest thing the agent ecosystem has to a common connector.
In practice: One MCP server for your ticketing system, usable from any MCP-aware assistant.
Where this comes up
- Anthropic's Model Hardware Standard: AI Agents Step Into the Physical World
- Best AI Coding Agents in 2026: Top Tools by Use Case
- Best AI Tools for Marketing 2026: 20 Tools by Use Case
- ChatGPT for Finance 2026: Use Cases, Excel & Risks
- Claude Academy Is Live: Inside Anthropic's Free AI School
- Claude Code Course in 2026: What to Learn, Projects, Security, and Certificate Options