MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. It defines a common way for AI applications to discover and use tools, resources, and prompts exposed by external servers.
In practice
The idea is to reduce one-off integrations. Instead of every AI app building a custom connector for every service, MCP gives a shared protocol for connecting context and actions.
What to watch
MCP is a connection standard, not an automatic safety layer. Apps still need authentication, permissions, approvals, and careful tool design.