Model Context Protocol (MCP): The USB-C Moment for AI?

Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP), released in late 2024, is taking the AI world by storm. Think of it as the USB-C of AI integrations: it allows Large Language Models (LLMs) like Claude or ChatGPT to seamlessly communicate with external data sources and tools (Obsidian, Gmail, calendars, etc.) without needing a million custom integrations. MCP uses a three-tier architecture—hosts, clients, and servers—to enable secure and reliable data access and action triggering, significantly simplifying development and spawning innovative applications. Examples include connecting LLMs to personal databases, code repositories, and even real-time stock data. MCP's open-source nature has made it a hot topic in the developer community, integrated into numerous AI apps, and heralds a revolutionary shift in how we interact with AI applications.