So you have a cool AI tool you love to use. What if you could easily plug it into your own private knowledge base, built with CustomGPT.ai?
Refer to our Other clients + CustomGPT.ai’s Hosted MCP server docs for more info.
If your tool supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), you can. MCP is an open standard, which is a fancy way of saying it’s a “universal plug” for AI. This post will give you the general idea of how to connect any MCP-friendly tool.
The Big Idea: MCP
MCP is just a set of rules that lets an AI app talk to a data source. When a tool says it “supports MCP,” it means it knows how to use this universal plug. This lets you connect your CustomGPT.ai agent—with its top-ranked accuracy for finding answers in your docs—to the tools you already use.
Want to geek out on the details? Our Hosted MCP launch blog post has you covered.
The Two Ways to Connect
Most tools will connect in one of two ways.
1. The Direct Connection: The app talks straight to the CustomGPT.ai server. It’s simple and fast.
Your AI Tool --> (Securely over the Internet) --> CustomGPT.ai Server --> (Back to your tool)2. The Helper Connection: The app uses a little helper program on your computer (called supergateway) to manage the connection.
Your AI Tool --> Your PC's Helper --> CustomGPT.ai Server --> Your PC's Helper --> Your AI ToolYour tool’s documentation will tell you which method it uses.
What you’ll always need from CustomGPT.ai:
No matter how you connect, you’ll need to grab a few details from your CustomGPT.ai dashboard.
- A CustomGPT.ai account and a project with your data.
- Your Project ID.
- Your MCP Token (which is like a secret password).
You can find all of this by logging in, opening your project, and clicking on the Deploy ➞ MCP Server (Beta) tab.
The General Steps
- Find the MCP settings in your tool. Look for “MCP,” “External Context,” or “Add Server” in your tool’s settings or preferences.
- Provide your details. Your tool will ask for your server info.
- If it’s a Direct Connection (like Cursor or Windsurf), it will probably ask for a single URL. You’ll use this format:
https://mcp.customgpt.ai/projects/<PROJECT_ID>/sse?token=<TOKEN>- If it’s a Helper Connection (like Claude or Trae), it will ask for a command and arguments, which you can copy directly from the JSON block in your CustomGPT.ai MCP dashboard.
- Save and go!
That’s the basic pattern. By using this standard, you can turn CustomGPT.ai into the central brain for all your favorite AI applications.
Watch what’s possible:
Your Turn to Build!
So there you have it. No more generic answers! Your favorite AI tool is now your personal expert, with a direct line to the documents and data you care about most. It’s a true game-changer for getting things done.
Why not give it a try? Head over to CustomGPT.ai to start a free trial and create your own private AI brain.
We can’t wait to see what you build with it!
P.S If are into MCP world, you will definitely live this MCP AMA that we did with Pinecone folks and other MCP folks (Santiago).
Find it here:
Further Reading
For those interested in exploring MCP in greater depth, check out the following resources:
- What Is Model Context Protocol (MCP)?
A comprehensive introduction to MCP’s origins, goals, and why it’s becoming the de facto “USB-C” for AI integrations. - Top 124 MCP Servers, MCP Clients & Tools (2025 Guide)
A curated catalog of production-ready MCP servers and clients—both open-source and proprietary—showcasing plug-and-play tools you can use today. - Problems MCP Model Context Protocol Solves
An exploration of the real-world pain points (API sprawl, ad-hoc integrations, security gaps) that MCP was designed to eliminate. - The Model Context Protocol (MCP) Architecture (2025)
A deep dive into MCP’s component layers, sequence diagrams, security considerations, and production-grade deployment patterns.
Priyansh is Developer Relations Advocate who loves technology, writer about them, creates deeply researched content about them.
