---
id: "entity-product-mcp"
type: "entity"
entityType: "other"
canonicalName: "Model Context Protocol"
aliases: ["MCP"]
url: "https://www.anthropic.com/news/model-context-protocol"
source_timestamps: ["24:48:00"]
tags: ["protocol", "standard"]
related: ["entity-org-anthropic", "entity-simon-willison"]
sources: ["s43-file-format-agreement"]
sourceVaultSlug: "s43-file-format-agreement"
originDay: 43
---
# Model Context Protocol (MCP)

## Profile

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard introduced by [[entity-org-anthropic-d43]] in October 2024 for connecting AI models to data sources and tools.

## Role in This Source

The speaker contrasts MCP with skills, noting [[entity-simon-willison]]'s prediction that **skills may prove to be the more impactful paradigm shift** for LLM extensibility. MCP is positioned as a complementary but less-compounding mechanism: MCP standardizes connectors, while skills standardize *methodologies*.

## Reference

https://www.anthropic.com/news/model-context-protocol