Rise of Model Context Protocol in the Agentic Era
We have all heard about model context protocol (MCP) in the context of artificial intelligence. In this article, we will dive into what MCP is and why it is becoming more important by the day. When APIs are already available then why do we need MCP? Although we have seen a large rise in popularity of MCP, is there staying power in this new protocol? In the first section, we will look at the parallels between APIs and MCP and then start to explore what sets it apart.
TL;DR
- MCP is an open-source standard for AI agent communication, enabling interaction with external data and systems.
- It uses a client-server model with features like 'tools' for servers and 'elicitation' for clients to facilitate complex tasks and user interaction.
- MCP addresses the non-deterministic nature of AI agents, unlike APIs which are deterministic and require explicit instructions.
- Tools in MCP abstract functionality rather than just API calls, allowing agents to autonomously select and execute actions.
- MCP has experienced rapid adoption since its 2024 launch, with significant growth in registered servers and integration by major tech companies.
- Future developments for MCP include enhanced guardrails around tools to increase trust and enable greater AI autonomy.