Anthropic open-sources MCP, a standard for connecting AI assistants to tools and data

• 25 Nov, 2024

  MCP launch

  Anthropic open-sources MCP, a standard for connecting AI assistants to tools and data

  Anthropic open-sourced the Model Context Protocol, which lets AI applications connect to outside systems through MCP servers instead of a custom integration for each data source. Block and Apollo were early adopters, and retailers including Walmart and DoorDash later used MCP to expose shopping actions to outside agents.

  • MCP

  Source: Anthropic News ↗
  • Earlier: Anthropic donates MCP to the new Agentic AI Foundation at the Linux Foundation
  • Earlier: Walmart opens an MCP gateway and agent profiles for third-party shopping agents
  • Earlier: DoorDash ships an MCP interface so external AI agents can order

Related essays and timeline events

• DoorDash ships an MCP interface so external AI agents can order

  29 Oct, 2026

  Agentic Commerce Timeline

  DoorDash said in its third-quarter 2026 results, filed with the SEC, that it shipped a Model Context Protocol interface that connects with external AI agents, including those companies use for corporate ordering.

• Walmart opens an MCP gateway and agent profiles for third-party shopping agents

  21 Oct, 2026

  Agentic Commerce Timeline

  Walmart announced the Walmart Agent Gateway, an MCP connection for approved shopping agents, along with Agent Profiles and published terms for AI agents covering Walmart and Sam's Club.

• Shopify opens UCP catalog access to any developer with an API key

  17 Jun, 2026

  Agentic Commerce Timeline

  Shopify's Spring '26 Edition opened its agentic commerce layer to any developer instead of approved partners only.

• Anthropic donates MCP to the new Agentic AI Foundation at the Linux Foundation

  9 Dec, 2025

  Agentic Commerce Timeline

  Anthropic donated the Model Context Protocol to the Agentic AI Foundation, a directed fund under the Linux Foundation co-founded by Anthropic, Block and OpenAI.