This video explains the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a standard designed to simplify the interaction between Large Language Models (LLMs) and external tools. The speaker emphasizes MCP's importance in improving the capabilities of LLMs and discusses potential startup opportunities related to it.
The main limitation of LLMs without external tools, as explained in the video, is their inability to perform meaningful tasks. They excel at predicting the next word in a sequence but cannot interact with the real world or perform actions like sending emails or updating databases. The video uses the example of asking an LLM to send an email; without access to an email service API, the LLM cannot fulfill this request.
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) addresses the challenges of integrating LLMs with multiple tools and services by creating a standardized layer between the LLM and the tools. This layer translates the different languages and communication protocols used by various services into a unified language that the LLM can understand. This simplifies the integration process and makes it less cumbersome.
The components of the MCP ecosystem are:
The current technical challenges associated with MCP servers and clients include the cumbersome nature of setting them up. The video mentions the annoyance of downloading and copying files, suggesting that there are still several kinks to work out before the system becomes more user-friendly and streamlined. There are also issues of compatibility between different services and the potential for unexpected errors if services update their APIs.
