Anthropic launches Model Context Protocol to simplify LLM app integration with datasets

Anthropic has unveiled the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard designed to simplify the integration of LLM applications with various data sources. MCP eliminates the need for custom integrations by providing a unified protocol to connect LLM apps to data. For instance, users can now use Claude to interface directly with GitHub to create repositories and pull requests via a straightforward MCP integration.

Traditionally, developers had to write bespoke code for each data source connection, a process MCP streamlines with its standardized approach to sharing resources, tools, and prompts. MCP employs a client-server architecture, allowing multiple services to connect to compatible clients like Claude Desktop or AI tools, while servers act as adapters for data sources.

The protocol supports both local and remote resources, handling databases, files, and APIs like Slack and GitHub uniformly. MCP servers can share not only data but also tools and prompts, enhancing interaction capabilities. Currently, MCP operates locally, requiring servers to run on individual machines. However, Anthropic is developing remote server support with enterprise-grade authentication to enable secure context sharing within organizations.