MCP: A New Standard for Connecting AI to AEC Software

A new open protocol is connecting AI assistants to the specialized tools AEC teams already use — and major vendors are moving quickly to implement it.

Model Context Protocol gives AI systems a standardized way to call external software tools. Bentley, Autodesk, Trimble, and Bluebeam have shipped MCP integrations or put them in technical preview. This article breaks down what MCP is, what vendors have available today (or planned), and what this shift means for day-to-day AEC workflows.

By Lara Sheridan, Managing Editor

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