AWS has documented how to deploy Model Context Protocol apps that render interactive controls inside compatible AI hosts such as ChatGPT and Claude. MCP Apps extends the protocol with HTML widgets, letting one server deliver cards, forms or other interfaces instead of returning every result as plain text.
The sample service, Unicorn Rentals, can show inventory as visual cards, create a booking and report its cost. An AgentCore runtime hosts the TypeScript MCP server, while AgentCore Gateway exposes one managed endpoint. The application calls a Lambda function for booking logic and stores records in DynamoDB, leaving the underlying business service unaware of MCP. That separation lets an organization place a protocol adapter in front of existing services rather than rebuilding them.
Tools return structured data and identify an associated widget resource. The AI host retrieves the self-contained HTML and renders it in a sandboxed frame; operations without a useful visual component can still return text. The example uses AWS WAF for allowlisting, threat rules and rate limits, and restricts runtime invocation to the gateway’s identity. Compatibility remains the main boundary: the reusable interface appears only in hosts that implement the MCP Apps extension, and production teams must replace the sample’s access policy with authentication suited to their users.