MCP and the end of middleware

For my whole career, connecting two business systems meant middleware: a custom layer that knows both systems and maps every field. Want to add an expected ship date to a purchase order? Both sides change their configuration, and someone reprograms the middle. Large companies employ whole teams just to maintain these links.

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an AI-enabled version of an API. It sits in front of a system and works in natural language, so it adapts when things change instead of breaking. Many major software vendors now make their systems available through MCP.

For me, this is the biggest unlock in AI. Connecting your systems used to take a budget and a team. Now any business can do it.