How Anthropic helped artificial intelligence connect to the world
An artificial intelligence (AI) assistant becomes more useful when it can work with your files and favourite apps. Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), released on 25 November 2024, gives developers a shared way to make those connections.
Think of it as a common plug. Developers can build a connection once and reuse it across compatible assistants, reducing repeated work.
The idea spread quickly. By December 2025, Anthropic reported more than 10,000 public MCP servers, which provide access to tools and data. ChatGPT, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot had adopted it. Anthropic also donated MCP to the Linux Foundation’s Agentic AI Foundation.
Its influence now extends to public information. The World Bank’s Data360 service lets connected assistants retrieve official poverty, climate and health statistics, alongside definitions and sources.
Server counts cannot tell us how much time people save. Access permissions and security still need careful handling.
But researchers can now ask questions in everyday language and have their assistant look up the underlying figures. Useful knowledge becomes easier to reach.
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