Anthropic Open-Sources Model Context Protocol to Unify AI Data Access

June 27, 2025

Details

  • Anthropic has open-sourced the Model Context Protocol (MCP), establishing a universal standard for connecting AI assistants with external data sources and business tools.
  • The launch features the MCP specification, SDKs, local server support in Claude Desktop, and open-source repositories of pre-built servers for platforms like Google Drive, Slack, and GitHub.
  • MCP addresses the "N×M" integration challenge by offering a single protocol for secure, two-way data exchange, replacing traditional custom connectors and fragmented integrations.
  • This open approach moves beyond prior vendor-specific methods, such as OpenAI’s function-calling API, and incorporates ideas from developer protocols like the Language Server Protocol.
  • Early adopters include companies such as Block and Apollo, with development tool providers like Zed and Replit also integrating MCP to enhance AI-driven workflows.

Impact

MCP’s open standard for AI-data integration sets the stage for faster enterprise AI adoption by simplifying connections and fostering a robust ecosystem of reusable connectors. Backed by notable adoption from OpenAI and Google DeepMind, MCP could become foundational to new waves of context-aware business and coding tools. This shift positions Anthropic as a key architect in the expanding AI infrastructure landscape.

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