Model Context Protocol: A promising AI integration layer, but not a standard (yet)
1 min read
Summary
Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open-source interface that enables large language models to interact with external tools in a consistent, standardised manner.
While MCP has gained traction and been praised for its innovation, it is currently only supported by Anthropic and hasn’t yet been ratified as an official industry standard.
Without a neutral, widely accepted protocol, complexity and costs rise, particularly with numerous vendors developing their own parallel protocols, risking a splintered ecosystem that hinders interoperability.
For these reasons, tech leaders should consider the advantages of MCP but avoid full-scale adoption until it’s matured, advocating instead for open governance to steer its development.
The rise of MCP has highlighted the need for a consistent language for AI systems to communicate, execute and reason effectively in real-world workflows.