Short answer
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting AI assistants and agents to outside tools and data. An MCP server exposes a system such as a CRM, database or file store in a common format, and any MCP-compatible AI client, such as Claude or ChatGPT, can then read from it and act on it with the user's permission.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) explained
Anthropic introduced MCP in November 2024 and in December 2025 donated it to the Agentic AI Foundation, a project under the Linux Foundation. The protocol defines how a client discovers what a server offers (tools, resources and prompts) and how it calls them, so each system needs one MCP server instead of a custom integration for every AI app.
Salesforce, HubSpot and many other vendors now offer MCP servers, which means an AI assistant can look up a client record, draft an update or run a report in your CRM while respecting that user's access.
How Vantage Point helps: we connect Claude and ChatGPT to Salesforce and HubSpot through MCP, with the permissions, logging and policies regulated firms need.
Frequently asked questions
Is MCP only for Claude?
No. Anthropic created MCP, but it is an open standard now governed under the Linux Foundation, and it is supported by many AI clients including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and developer tools.
Is it safe to connect a CRM to an AI assistant with MCP?
It can be, if the connection uses each user's own permissions, actions that change data require approval, and activity is logged. Those controls are the main design work in an MCP rollout.