MCP (Model Context Protocol)
Also known as: Model Context Protocol
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard, introduced by Anthropic, that lets AI applications connect to external tools and data sources — like Google Drive, Slack, databases, and CRMs — through a consistent interface, so an AI agent can read from and act on the tools you already use.
MCP is the 'plug' that connects an AI agent to the rest of your stack. Instead of every tool needing a custom integration, MCP defines a common way for an AI to discover and use external capabilities — fetching files, querying a database, posting a message, calling an API.
For Claude Cowork users, MCP is what makes the difference between an AI that can only talk and one that can actually operate inside your Gmail, Notion, Salesforce, HubSpot, or internal systems. Setting up the right MCP connections is usually the first thing that unlocks real workflow automation.