Understanding MCP Tools

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a powerful "universal connector" for AI. It allows you to take the specialized research tools and data from Corbis and use them directly within other AI platforms like Cursor, ChatGPT, Claude Desktop, and Grok.

By connecting Corbis via MCP, you empower your external AI assistants with the same high-quality academic research and economic data that you find within the Corbis platform.

Why Use MCP?

Typically, AI models are limited to the data they were trained on or whatever they can find on the open web. By connecting Corbis via MCP, you provide your AI with "professional superpowers":

• Verifiable Research:
• Economic Data: Direct access to Federal Reserve (FRED) economic time series.
• Workflow Continuity: Create and update Corbis documents directly from your code editor or favorite chat interface.
• Reduced Context Switching: No need to copy-paste data between Corbis and your other tools.

Available Tools

When you connect Corbis via MCP, you gain access to 10 specialized tools:

Research & Analysis

• Search Papers: Find academic research using semantic search across a massive corpus.
• Literature Search: Conduct deep, multi-step literature reviews on complex topics.
• Get Paper Details: Retrieve abstracts, authors, and metadata for specific papers.
• Analyze Document: Use AI to extract insights from PDFs and research materials.

Economic Data (FRED)

• FRED Search: Discover economic data series (GDP, CPI, Interest Rates, etc.).
• FRED Series Batch: Retrieve actual data points and time-series for analysis.

Document Management

• Create Document: Save your research findings directly into your Corbis library.
• Update Document: Refine and expand existing Corbis documents.

General Utilities

• Internet Search: Access real-time web information to supplement research.
• Weather: Get current weather data for any location.

How to Get Started

Connecting Corbis to another platform follows a simple three-step process:

1. Generate Your API Key (or Use OAuth)

Navigate to Settings → API Keys in the Corbis platform. Create a new key (e.g., "Cursor - Laptop") and copy the token immediately. For security, tokens are only shown once.

For ChatGPT: You can use the standard OAuth 2.1 flow. When connecting Corbis as a tool, select "OAuth" and you will be redirected to the Corbis consent screen to authorize the connection.

2. Identify Your Connection Type

Different platforms require different setup methods:

• AI Code Editors (Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Desktop): These usually require a "JSON configuration snippet" which Corbis provides for you in the API Keys settings. These use API Key authentication.
• Modern Platforms (ChatGPT): These often support OAuth 2.1, allowing you to simply "Sign In" with your Corbis account without managing manual keys.
• Custom Integrations: You can use the Universal Endpoint with either an API key or a Bearer token.

3. Configure the Connection

• For Cursor/Claude Desktop: Copy the JSON snippet from your Corbis settings and paste it into the platform's configuration file.
• For ChatGPT: When adding Corbis as a tool, select OAuth as the authentication type. It will automatically discover the Corbis authentication server and prompt you to log in.
• For Manual Setup: Use the universal endpoint: https://www.corbis.ai/api/mcp/universal

Important Usage Notes

Always Include Your API Key

To protect your data and tools, Corbis requires an API key for all MCP actions. Even if a platform only asks for a URL, ensure your key is included in the "Authorization" or "Bearer Token" field.

Platform-Specific Requirements

Every AI platform handles MCP slightly differently. While Corbis provides the "universal connector," you may need to check the documentation of the specific tool you are using (like Cursor's "Models" settings or Claude Desktop's config file) to ensure the connection is successful.

Security & Privacy

Your MCP API keys are personal. Never share them or commit them to public code repositories. If you believe a key has been compromised, you can revoke it instantly in your Corbis Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a paid account to use MCP? A: MCP access is tied to your Corbis account level. Check your entitlements in the settings page to see which tools are available to you.

Q: Why does Cursor need a JSON snippet instead of just a URL? A: Cursor uses a specific implementation of MCP that requires local command execution (via npx mcp-remote) to establish a secure, bidirectional connection.

Q: Can I use Corbis MCP tools with locally-run AI models? A: Yes! As long as your local AI runner (like Ollama or LM Studio) supports the Model Context Protocol, you can connect it to Corbis.

Get Help

If you're having trouble connecting Corbis to another platform, reach out to our support team at admin@agenticassets.ai or check the Quick Start Guide for general platform usage.