GLOSSARY
MCP (Model Context Protocol)
MCP is an open standard created by Anthropic that lets AI assistants (Claude, ChatGPT) connect directly to business tools like an ATS or CRM, to read data and execute actions in natural language.
IN DEPTH
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard launched by Anthropic in late 2024, often described as the "USB-C port of AI". It defines how an AI connects to business software: the tool exposes an "MCP server" describing its capabilities (search a candidate, create a task, send an email, update a status), and the AI composes the actions itself to answer a request phrased in natural language. Adopted by OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Microsoft in 2025, MCP has become the de facto standard for AI-to-tool connections. In recruitment, it enables conversational sourcing, shortlist generation, automatic follow-ups and instant reporting, straight from a conversation. Unlike a classic API integration, no scenario is coded in advance: the AI discovers the tool's capabilities and adapts to the request. AI-first platforms like Cobalt natively expose their data through this approach, with per-user permissions and action traceability.
Frequently asked questions
Connecting an AI to your ATS/CRM to work in natural language: "find 10 DevOps engineers available in September and draft a follow-up" becomes an action executed in the tool, with no export, no copy-paste, no integration development.
No: MCP servers are built on existing APIs. The API remains the technical plumbing; MCP is the standardized layer that lets AI use it on demand. What becomes obsolete are fixed connectors and integration scenarios.
Related terms
- Agentic AIAgentic AI refers to AI systems able to pursue a goal autonomously: planning steps, using tools (ATS, email, calendar), executing actions and self-correcting. Generative AI answers, agentic AI acts.
- AI Worker (digital worker)An AI worker is an autonomous AI agent that owns a complete, continuous scope of work, like a digital colleague: it sources, qualifies, follows up, schedules and reports, with human approval on sensitive actions.
- ATS (Applicant Tracking System)An ATS is a candidate management software that centralizes, sorts and advances candidates through a recruitment process, from application to hire.
- Recruitment CRMA recruitment CRM centralizes the relationship with candidates (talent pool, history, scoring) and clients (missions, pipeline, renewal), unlike an ATS which focuses on application tracking.
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