Model Context Protocol Demystified

About the Session

Model Context Protocol is emerging as the as a defacto standard for integrating tools with LLMs. As with most new technology, especially those related to AI, it is shrouded in hype and confusion. What is MCP exactly, how is it implemented, what can it do and not do? This talk explains the purpose and goal of MCP. It solves the problem of integrating large language models with other systems in a consistent, interoperable way. - What was the state of the art for integrating LLMs and tools prior to MCP? - What were the problems and limitations of those approaches? - How does MCP resolve those limitations? The talk then dives deep into the details of how MCP is implemented, by building an MCP server from scratch. The audience will discover how MCP uses established tech such as JSON RPC and standard IO to define a common integration pattern for building AI solutions. Once these nuts and bolts are laid bare, the demonstration moves on to solve a real-world problem via the server implementation. Finally, the talk explains the less-used capabilities of MCP beyond tools – for example how the “samples” concept allows tools the initiate communication with the LLM, a reversal of the typical tool pattern.

Speaker

Matthew Livesey

Principal, Lead Engineering & Aanlytics DK at ADC Consulting,