The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a new open standard that allows LLMs to securely connect with external tools, APIs, and data sources. In this session, we’ll demystify MCP by showing how to build your own MCP client and server — enabling AI systems to go beyond text responses and actually perform actions, integrate APIs, and automate data workflows.

What attendees will learn:
• What MCP is and why it matters for the future of AI applications.
• The structure of MCP clients and servers.
• How to expose APIs to an LLM through MCP.
• Demo: creating a simple MCP server to interact with a data pipeline API.
• Use cases in data platforms: automating ETL, monitoring, and reporting with AI.

Prerequisites:
• Familiarity with REST APIs and JSON.
• Intermediate Python or JavaScript knowledge.