Model Context Protocol (MCP) 2026-07-28 Update Introduces Stateless Architecture
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) has released its largest update (version 2026-07-28), transitioning the protocol to a stateless architecture to simplify the deployment and scaling of remote servers. It also introduces a first-class extensions framework, including support for MCP Apps, Tasks, and Enterprise Managed Auth. By making the protocol stateless, developers can run MCP on commodity HTTP infrastructure, significantly reducing the complexity of scaling AI integrations. This update establishes a robust foundation for connecting AI models to external tools and enterprise data sources at scale. The update makes application state explicit rather than hidden inside protocol sessions, giving developers greater control over context. Additionally, it introduces hardened authentication, a formal deprecation policy, and uses JSON-RPC 2.0 as its underlying RPC protocol.
## BACKGROUND
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open-source standard introduced by Anthropic in November 2024 to standardize how AI models integrate with external tools and data. It has since been adopted by major AI providers, including OpenAI and Google DeepMind, to build a unified interface for AI applications.