Google joins OpenAI in adopting Anthropic's protocol for connecting AI agents - why it matters

It's not every day you see major AI companies setting aside their rivalry to rally behind a common cause, but that's exactly what's happening with Google, OpenAI, and others as they embrace Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP). On Wednesday, Google took to X to announce their support for MCP, which is set to enhance the performance of their Gemini models and SDK by allowing AI systems to tap into data stores, developer spaces, and business applications.

This move comes hot on the heels of OpenAI's announcement on March 26, where they declared their adoption of MCP, starting with their SDK. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, hinted that MCP would eventually find its way into ChatGPT on desktop and in the app, though he left the timeline a bit fuzzy.

The rise of AI agents—those handy assistants that can tackle a variety of tasks, sometimes even on their own—has been nothing short of meteoric. But here's the catch: these agents are only as effective as the data they can access. In high-security and enterprise environments, integrating these agents with every system and data source can be a real headache, not to mention a scaling nightmare.

Enter MCP, which Anthropic generously open-sourced late last year. This protocol offers a universal standard that simplifies the integration process. To sweeten the deal, Anthropic rolled out pre-built servers for popular enterprise software like Google Drive, GitHub, and Slack, making it easier for businesses to jump on board.

"MCP is a solid protocol, and it's quickly becoming the go-to standard for the AI agent era," said Demis Hassabis, the co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind. "We're thrilled to support it for our Gemini models and SDK. We're eager to collaborate with the MCP team and other industry players to further develop it."

Google isn't the only one on the MCP bandwagon. Companies like Block, Apollo, Zed, Replit, Codeium, and Sourcegraph have also hopped on, signaling a broader shift towards open-source solutions, particularly in the enterprise sector. This trend could be a sign of a larger transformation in the tech industry, especially as more companies dive into the world of AI agents, seen as the next big thing in tech.

While Hassabis didn't spill the beans on when Google would fully support MCP, the excitement around this protocol is palpable. It's clear that MCP is paving the way for a more connected and efficient AI ecosystem.