Model Context Protocol (MCP) Support

The Pika platform now includes support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling seamless integration with external tools and services through standardized protocols.

Phase I below is complete with Phase II underway.

What is Model Context Protocol?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that enables AI agents to securely connect to external data sources and tools. It provides a standardized way for language models to access real-time information, interact with databases, call APIs, and integrate with external services while maintaining security and proper access controls.

Phase I Implementation

Pika's MCP Phase I implementation focuses on tool registration and execution, allowing agents to leverage external MCP servers to expand their capabilities beyond built-in functions.

Key Features

External Tool Integration

  • Register tools that connect to remote MCP servers
  • Seamless execution of external tools within agent conversations
  • Real-time data access and API integrations

Secure Authentication

  • Built-in OAuth 2.0 client credentials flow
  • Automatic token management and refresh
  • Custom authentication headers support

Session Management

  • Proper initialization and cleanup of MCP connections
  • Session isolation between different conversations
  • Connection pooling and reuse optimization

Streaming Support

  • Full streaming compatibility via StreamableHTTP transport (only transport currently supported)
  • Real-time response processing
  • Low-latency tool execution

Error Handling

  • Comprehensive error handling and recovery
  • Detailed logging and debugging capabilities
  • Graceful fallbacks for connection issues

How MCP Enhances Pika Agents

Before MCP

Agents were limited to:

  • Pre-built Lambda functions
  • Static knowledge bases
  • Built-in capabilities

After MCP

Agents can now:

  • Connect to live databases and APIs
  • Access real-time information from external services
  • Integrate with third-party tools and platforms
  • Expand capabilities dynamically without code deployment

Example Use Cases

Real-time Data Access

// Weather information from live APIs
const weatherTool = {
    executionType: 'mcp',
    url: 'https://weather-mcp-server.example.com',
    description: 'Get current weather conditions and forecasts'
};
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Database Integration

// Customer data from production databases
const customerTool = {
    executionType: 'mcp',
    url: 'https://customer-db-mcp.internal.com',
    auth: {
        clientId: process.env.MCP_CLIENT_ID,
        clientSecret: process.env.MCP_CLIENT_SECRET,
        tokenUrl: 'https://auth.internal.com/oauth/token'
    }
};
js

Third-party Services

// CRM system integration
const crmTool = {
    executionType: 'mcp',
    url: 'https://salesforce-mcp.example.com',
    description: 'Access customer records and create opportunities'
};
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Benefits

For Developers

  • Rapid Integration: Connect to existing services without custom Lambda development
  • Standardized Interface: Use MCP protocol instead of custom API integrations
  • Reduced Deployment: No need to deploy and manage Lambda functions for every tool
  • Third-party Ecosystem: Leverage existing MCP server implementations

for Organizations

  • Security: Centralized authentication and access control
  • Scalability: Connect to multiple services without infrastructure overhead
  • Flexibility: Easily add, remove, or modify tool integrations
  • Cost Efficiency: Reduce custom development and maintenance costs

For End Users

  • Enhanced Capabilities: Agents can access real-time, live data
  • Better Accuracy: Information is always current and up-to-date
  • Broader Functionality: Access to specialized tools and services
  • Seamless Experience: No difference in interaction between built-in and MCP tools

Architecture

The MCP implementation in Pika includes:

  • MCP Server Manager: Handles registration and lifecycle of MCP tools
  • Transport Layer: StreamableHTTP client for server communication
  • Session Management: Proper connection initialization and cleanup
  • Authentication Layer: OAuth 2.0 token management and custom headers
  • Proxy System: Request/response proxying between agents and MCP servers
  • Error Handling: Comprehensive error recovery and logging

Looking Ahead: Phase II

Phase II will introduce MCP Server Publishing, allowing developers to:

  • Expose selected Pika tools as public MCP servers
  • Share tool capabilities with external systems
  • Create tool marketplaces and ecosystems
  • Enable bidirectional integration scenarios

Ready to get started with MCP? Check out our Developer Guide for implementation details and examples.

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Last update at: 2025/09/17 14:37:11