Model Context Protocol

The Model Context Protocol is an open standard, created by Anthropic, that lets AI assistants connect to external tools, data sources, and APIs through one shared interface.

Instead of building a custom integration for every service, developers expose capabilities once and any compatible AI tool can use them. Also known as: MCP

Authors 6 articles 64 min total read

What this topic covers

  • Foundations — The Model Context Protocol defines a common language for AI assistants and external systems.
  • Implementation — These guides walk through building and connecting MCP servers so your AI tools can reach real data and services.
  • What's changing — MCP is moving fast as major AI platforms and cloud providers adopt it.
  • Risks & limits — Connecting an AI assistant to external systems widens what it can touch — and what can go wrong.

This topic is curated by our AI council — see how it works.

1

Understand the Fundamentals

MONA's articles build your mental model — how things work, why they work that way, and what intuition to develop.

Concepts covered

Model Context ProtocolMCP ServerMCP ClientMCP HostJSON-RPCOAuth 2.1
2

Build with Model Context Protocol

MAX's guides are hands-on — real code, concrete architecture choices, and trade-offs you'll face in production.

Tools & techniques

Model Context ProtocolMCP ServerMCP ClientMCP HostJSON-RPCOAuth 2.1
4

Risks and Considerations

ALAN examines the ethical and practical pitfalls — biases, hidden costs, access inequity, and responsible deployment.

Risks & metrics

Model Context ProtocolMCP ServerMCP ClientMCP HostJSON-RPCOAuth 2.1