---
id: "prereq-mcp-d28"
type: "prereq"
source_timestamps: ["14:15:00"]
tags: ["technical-standards", "api"]
related: ["concept-agent-ready-business"]
reason: "Mentioned as a table-stakes requirement for making a business 'agent-ready.'"
sources: ["s28-5-safe-places"]
sourceVaultSlug: "s28-5-safe-places"
originDay: 28
---
# Model Context Protocol (MCP)

## Why You Need This

Mentioned as a table-stakes requirement for making a business [[concept-agent-ready-business|agent-ready]].

## What to Know

**Model Context Protocol (MCP)** is an open standard that enables developers to build secure, two-way connections between data sources and AI applications. It provides a standardized way for AI agents to:

- Discover what data and tools are available.
- Authenticate and request specific resources.
- Receive structured, machine-readable responses.

Think of it as analogous to a USB or HTTP standard for AI-to-data connections.

## Why This Matters Here

The speaker uses 'MCP-ready' as one of the three table-stakes for an [[concept-agent-ready-business|Agent-Ready Business]] (alongside Fast and Easy). It is the canonical illustration of the standardized machine-readable interfaces that the agentic economy requires.

## Caveat

Per enrichment: 'No canonical found; likely refers to an emerging standard for agent-data links, akin to LangChain tools but unstandardized at the time of the talk.' Treat the precise definition as evolving.