// AI
Model Context Protocol
Also known as MCP
An open standard (introduced by Anthropic in late 2024) for connecting AI models to tools, data and services.
In depth
MCP is the USB-C of AI agents: instead of every AI product building bespoke integrations, tools expose an MCP server and any MCP-compatible model can call them. By 2026, most enterprise CRM, data warehouse and observability tools ship MCP servers as table stakes.
Related terms
Agent
An AI system that plans, uses tools and takes actions autonomously toward a goal, not just generates text.
Tool Use
An LLM's ability to call external functions, APIs or MCP servers as part of its reasoning loop.
Copilot
An AI assistant that suggests, drafts and summarises inside a human workflow, the human stays in the loop.