Model Context Protocol, MCP server or MCP connector
MCP, the Model Context Protocol, is an open standard that lets AI assistants connect to apps and data through MCP servers, so they can look things up and take actions in a consistent way.
MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. It's an open standard for connecting AI assistants to other software. Think of it as a universal plug: build an MCP server for an app once, and any AI assistant that speaks MCP can use it.
An MCP server offers tools, like search contacts or create task, and the AI assistant decides when to use them. The person setting it up controls which tools are available.
Anthropic created MCP and open sourced it in November 2024. In December 2025 it was donated to the Agentic AI Foundation, part of the Linux Foundation, so it isn't owned by one company.
For most of my clients, MCP means Zapier MCP or ClickUp's own MCP server. They let Claude or ChatGPT work with the client's real tools without me writing custom code.
The rule I stick to is least access. Each assistant gets only the tools it needs, read only where possible, and anything risky goes behind an approval step. MCP makes connecting easy. Deciding what to connect is the real job.
The AI only sees the tools the server offers it.
No. An API is how software talks to an app. MCP is a standard wrapper that lets AI assistants find and use tools, and many MCP servers use an app's API underneath.
Anthropic created it, then in December 2025 donated it to the Agentic AI Foundation under the Linux Foundation. It's an open standard anyone can build on.
It can be, if you limit it. Only offer the tools the assistant needs, prefer read only tools, and put approvals in front of anything that sends, deletes or changes money.
I set these up and train your team, in your own ClickUp or Zapier account.
Book a callContact Jack - jack@withtoki.co.uk