Why MCP is becoming part of your product surface

AI assistants are increasingly becoming the primary interface for interacting with software, influencing how products are understood by users, developers, and buyers. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) addresses the challenge of AI assistants providing inaccurate or outdated information by enabling them to query live, authoritative sources for real-time data. This shift not only improves the quality of AI responses but also allows companies to control the narrative around their products in an AI-mediated environment. MCP's impact extends beyond developers, shaping product discovery, evaluation, and utilization, while also influencing support load by ensuring accurate responses. Hosting MCP servers transforms them from a developer tool into a business asset, providing valuable insights into user interactions and product perception. However, implementing MCP introduces operational challenges similar to maintaining a platform, necessitating careful management to ensure reliability and scalability. A cloud application platform can help absorb these operational burdens, allowing teams to focus on product differentiation and reducing maintenance liabilities. In the context of AI readiness, adopting MCP is crucial for maintaining competitive advantage by ensuring AI interactions accurately reflect the current state of a product.