MCP UI: Extending the frontier — Liad Yosef and Ido Salomon, MCP Apps

Introduction to MCP Apps

Overview of Presenters and Context

• Eda Solomon introduces herself as the creator of MCPUI and co-creator of MCP apps, alongside Liad, who works with her on these projects.

• They highlight that many interactive applications today, such as ChatGPT and Claude, are based on MCP and the MCP app specification.

The Need for MCP Apps

• Discussion on the limitations of traditional text-based interactions with chat agents, which often lack identity and context.

• Proposal for a solution where tools can send their own UI to chat interfaces instead of just text responses.

MCPUI Development

Conceptual Foundation

• Introduction of MCPUI in May last year aimed at integrating UI into the communication framework over MCP.

• Emphasis on preserving branding and user experience while adapting to new agent technologies.

Adoption and Partnerships

• Notable partnerships with Anthropic and OpenAI to standardize MCP apps as an official extension.

• Early adopters like Shopify and Hugging Face have already integrated MCPUI into their platforms.

Standardization and Community Engagement

Growth in Adoption

• Increased adoption by major platforms including VS Code, Cursor, Microsoft Copilot, etc., showcasing community support for building around MCP apps.

Community Initiatives

• Establishment of an official repository for collaboration between Anthropic and OpenAI; public workgroup meetings held tri-weekly to advance standards.

Core Concepts Behind MCP Apps

Communication Flow

• Explanation of how UI is passed over MCP compared to previous methods that relied solely on text responses.

Interactive Features

• Description of how interactive elements allow users to engage directly with UIs rather than receiving static information.

Practical Examples

Visualizing Data Interactions

• Demonstration using Claude where users can request visual data representations instead of textual summaries (e.g., analyzing funnels).

Generative UI Capabilities

• Introduction of generative UI features allowing models like Claude to create contextual help or explanations through dynamic interfaces.

Future Implications

Redefining Web Interaction

• Discussion about a shift away from traditional websites towards a more integrated web experience facilitated by personal assistants managing interactions across services.

Control Dynamics

• Exploration of how control over user journeys is shifting from individual services back to hosts managing overall experiences.

Looking Ahead: The Evolution of Standards

Future Developments

• Anticipation for 2026 when they aim to fully standardize MCP apps globally; ongoing evolution based on community feedback highlighted.

SDK Utilization

• Encouragement for developers to use the official SDK (XApps), emphasizing compliance with evolving specifications.

Conclusion: A New Era in Application Distribution

Expanding User Base

• Reference made to Sam Altman's statement about rapid growth in user engagement across platforms like ChatGPT indicating vast potential market reach.

Getting Started

• Guidance provided for developers interested in creating or hosting applications using the new standards set forth by MCCP apps.