MCP (Model Context Protocol) and connectors
An open standard for connecting AI assistants to tools and data sources in a consistent way.
What is it?
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard introduced by Anthropic for connecting AI applications to external tools and data. An MCP server exposes things like files, a database, a calendar or a company app. An AI application that supports MCP (the client) can then discover and use those tools in a standard way.
Before standards like this, each AI app needed its own custom integration for every service. With MCP, one connector can work with any compatible app. Many products now call these integrations "connectors".
Which models use it?
- Anthropic's Claude apps and Claude Code support MCP servers and connectors.
- OpenAI has added MCP support to its developer tools.
- Code editors and coding tools such as Visual Studio Code with GitHub Copilot and Cursor support MCP.
- Many companies and open-source projects publish MCP servers for services like GitHub, databases and file storage.
How to use it
- Check whether your AI app supports MCP or connectors in its settings or documentation.
- Choose servers from trusted sources, such as the service's own publisher.
- Review what data and actions each server can access before connecting it.
- Grant the minimum permissions and use read-only access when possible.
- Test the connection with simple requests before relying on it.
- Remove connectors you no longer use.
Benefits
- One standard way to connect many tools and data sources.
- Lets assistants work with your real, current data.
- Reusable connectors save developers integration work.
- Makes it easier to switch between AI apps that support the standard.
Limits and risks
- A connected server can see or change data, so a malicious or buggy one is a security risk.
- Tool results can contain prompt injection aimed at the AI.
- Support and features vary between apps.
- Too many connected tools can confuse the model and slow it down.
Prompt template
Copy it, replace the parts in [brackets] and paste it into any AI chat.
I want to connect an AI assistant to [service or data source] using MCP. Explain in plain steps what an MCP server for this would expose (tools and data), what permissions it needs, and the security risks. Then give me a checklist for choosing a trustworthy server and testing it safely. Point out which details I must confirm in the official MCP documentation.
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