MCP & integrations
An assistant stays locked inside its own window until you give it access to your stuff: your files, your notes, the apps you already use. MCP is the standard that acts as a universal plug between an AI and your applications. Here's how to connect it, how to build assistants that see a task through on their own, and how to do it while keeping your data on your own machine rather than someone else's service.
Connecting AI to your tools 39
- How do I tell the AI which tools and sources to use by preference?Tell the AI which sources to prefer: write it as a rule in the instructions (always cite, favor official sources). If you don't tell it, it chooses at random.
- How to configure MCP for business useHow to configure MCP for business use: central control, read-only, deny-by-default and when you really need a gateway.
- How do I get the AI to analyze an image, a photo, or a screenshot?Get the AI to analyze images and screenshots: upload them and ask. It reads text and explains errors, but on blurry photos it can err: verify the details.
- How do I connect the AI to other apps to automate my tasks?Connecting the AI to other apps to automate: built-in connections or automation tools. Start from a small task, not from everything.
- How do I turn voice notes and transcripts into ordered texts?Turning voice notes into ordered texts: paste in the raw speech and the AI structures it. Recheck names and numbers, which transcripts get wrong.
- How do I get answers with verifiable links and sources?Getting answers with links and sources: ask for it as a fixed rule. But the AI can invent links that look real: open them and verify they say what it claims.
- How do I get the AI to use my fitness and health data?Giving the AI fitness and health data: useful for reading trends and keeping consistency. But it's not a doctor and doesn't make diagnoses.
- How do I get the AI to answer based on my files and documents?Getting the AI to answer on your documents: upload them into the chat and question them. The assistant doesn't know your files until you give them.
- How do I connect the AI to my calendar and my schedule?Connecting the AI to the calendar: it reads commitments and proposes events to confirm. But alerts and confirmations stay with the calendar, not the assistant.
- How to install an MCP server on your own computerHow to install an MCP server on your computer: the prerequisites, the ready-to-copy configuration and how to verify it works.
- How to let the AI use your email with MCPHow to let the AI use your email with MCP: the AI searches, summarizes, and prepares drafts in Gmail, while sending stays in your hands.
- How do I get the AI to work on Excel and spreadsheets?Getting the AI to work on Excel: upload tables and ask for analysis or formulas. But do the real math in the sheet: ask for the formula, not the result.
- How to configure MCP with CursorHow to configure MCP with Cursor: global or project servers, the ready-to-copy config and the most common blockers to avoid.
- Is MCP safe to use? Real risks and how to reduce themIs MCP safe? The real risks (untrusted servers, prompt injection, too many permissions) and the practical rules to minimize them.
- How to give AI access to your computer's files with MCPHow to give AI access to your computer's files with MCP: the filesystem server, the ready-made config and what to ask your documents.
- How do I connect the AI to send emails and messages?Connect the AI to send emails and messages: have it write the draft, but press send yourself. Automatic sending only for repetitive, low-risk messages.
- How to set up permissions and security with MCPHow to set up permissions and security with MCP: the three access levels, least privilege, and confirmations for serious actions.
- What an MCP server is and what it's for in practiceWhat an MCP server is and what it's for: the adapter that lets your AI read files and use tools, explained in practice.
- MCP or custom instructions: when to use one or the otherMCP or custom instructions: instructions tell the AI how to behave, MCP what it can do. Here's when to use one, the other, or both.
- How to connect AI to a personal database with MCPHow to connect AI to a personal database with MCP: query your data in plain English, read-only, without writing SQL.
- How do I get charts and visualizations from my data?Get charts from your data with the AI: paste the numbers and say what you want to show. Choose the right type and verify the values are yours.
- How to connect multiple MCP servers togetherHow to connect multiple MCP servers together: add them all to the config file and watch the tool ceiling and resource usage.
- How to give AI external memory using MCPHow to give AI external memory with MCP: the memory server saves your facts in a local file and the AI remembers them across sessions.
- How do I create reminders and automatic tasks with the AI?Creating reminders with the AI: it turns chaos into an ordered list with priorities. But for alerts you need a to-do app: the AI doesn't ring on its own.
- How to get AI to use Excel or local databases via MCPHow to get AI to use Excel and local data with MCP: the server reads and writes your xlsx sheets without Excel, all on your computer.
- How to fix the most common problems with MCPHow to fix the most common problems with MCP: JSON, restart, Node, and paths, diagnosed in order from the most frequent fault.
- MCP or plugin: which is better to useMCP or plugin: which is better to use? MCP is the connection to a tool, the plugin a ready-made package. Here's how to choose and when to use them together.
- How to configure MCP with Claude DesktopHow to configure MCP with Claude Desktop: the ready-to-copy configuration, where to put it and how to verify the server works.
- How do I generate automatic reports from the data I enter?Generate automatic reports from your data: prepare a fixed template and each time give the new data to fill in. Verify the numbers before sending.
- How do I get the AI to use my finance and budget data?Get the AI to use your finance and budget data: to see where the money goes and get organized. Verify the totals, and for investments consult an expert.
- How to uninstall or disable an MCP serverHow to uninstall or disable an MCP server: the difference between turning off and removing, and how to actually take it out of the config file.
- How to have AI read only specific folders with MCPHow to have AI read only specific folders with MCP: indicate the precise paths, use read-only and keep the rest invisible.
- How to give AI read-only access with MCPHow to give AI read-only access with MCP: the AI reads your files and data but can't modify them, the simplest and most powerful defense.
- How do I get answers always in the same format?Get answers always in the same format: give the AI a filled-in template to imitate. Showing the layout works much better than describing it in words.
- How do I connect my note and to-do apps to the AI?Connecting note and to-do apps to the AI: start in read mode, have it summarize and retrieve your notes. The archive stays yours, the AI keeps it in order.
- How do I get the AI to look up up-to-date information on the internet?Get the AI to look up up-to-date information: turn on web search, because its base knowledge is frozen in time. And always check the sources it cites.
- How do I get the AI to read a specific web page?Get the AI to read a specific web page: try the link, but if it doesn't work, paste the text. Copy-pasting the content is the failproof method.
- How do I get the AI to use several documents and sources together?Getting the AI to use several documents: upload them labeled and say the exact verb (compare, merge, find). Have it cite which file each datum comes from.
- How to configure MCP with VS Code and GitHub CopilotHow to configure MCP with VS Code and GitHub Copilot: the servers entry, Agent mode and the ready-to-copy config.
Privacy and self-hosted AI 14
- How to delete history and data from AI platformsDeleting chats is immediate, removal from servers follows a window of about 30 days. Always export a copy before wiping everything.
- What it means to run an AI locally, without sending data onlineWhat it means to run an AI locally: it runs on your computer, the data doesn't leave and it works offline. Benefits, limits and tools.
- How to install an AI that runs only on your own computerHow to install an AI only on your computer: with LM Studio or Ollama you download a model and use it offline, with no account and at zero cost.
- How to prevent the AI from using my chats for trainingTo remove your conversations from training you need two moves: turn off the switch and use the temporary chat for confidential data.
- How to check what AI really knows about meTo know what AI knows about you look at the memory, the custom instructions and the history, then ask it directly in the box. And delete what you don't want.
- Local models or online AI: which is better for privacyLocal models or online AI for privacy: local keeps the data on your computer, online is more powerful. How to choose and why mixed is often best.
- Does AI use my conversations to train itself?On personal plans ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini use your chats to train by default. Here's how to check it and turn off the switch.
- How to use AI without creating an accountSeveral services answer without a login: basic ChatGPT, Perplexity with sources, Grok on grok.com. In return you give up history and file uploads.
- Is it safe to upload contracts or quotes into AI?Safety depends on the plan, the settings and data ownership. For your own quotes little is needed; for contracts with third parties' data you must anonymize.
- How to use AI privately even without being an expertTo use AI privately without technical skills, three gestures are enough: turn off training, use the temporary chat, and put in placeholders.
- How to get the AI's help without uploading confidential documentsDon't upload the confidential document: anonymize the data with placeholders, work on the structure, and for delicate cases use a local AI.
- What data do ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini really collect?ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini collect chats, account data, and usage signals: what differs between them and how to turn off training on your data.
- How to configure the privacy settings on ChatGPT and ClaudeThree switches to sort out on ChatGPT and Claude: training on data, memory and temporary chat. Where they are and how to put them in order.
- How to use AI at work while protecting clients' data and privacyTo use AI at work without exposing clients you need three pillars: a business plan, a written internal rule, and data anonymization.
Agents and automation 12
- When an AI agent is better than a chatbotWhen an AI agent is better than a chatbot: three questions about the type of task, the repetition and the cost of an automated error.
- How to automate repetitive tasks without programmingAutomating repetitive tasks without programming: connecting apps with Zapier or Make and using AI to read, classify and sort the data.
- How to have AI carry out a complex multi-stage taskHave AI carry out a complex multi-stage task: break it down, execute one stage at a time with checkpoints and stop errors upstream.
- How to have the AI use multiple tools together (email + calendar)Having the AI use email and calendar together: connecting the apps, giving a goal that crosses them and confirming yourself before sending or scheduling.
- What are the current risks and limits of AI agentsThe real risks of AI agents today: invented data, hidden instructions and chain errors. How to keep them under control with limits and supervision.
- How to have AI carry out tasks autonomously, starting from scratchHave AI carry out tasks autonomously from scratch: give an objective and not orders, have it show the plan and expand trust in steps.
- How to make multiple AI agents collaborate with each otherMaking multiple AI agents collaborate: one agent one trade, a coordinator that passes the work and a final human check that stops the errors.
- How to set up periodic reports and summaries autonomouslySet up periodic reports and summaries autonomously: define data, fixed format and cadence once, and verify the first cycles before trusting it.
- How to control, stop and correct an AI agentControlling, stopping and correcting an AI agent: setting the brakes beforehand, interrupting it the right way and correcting the instruction at the root.
- How to create a simple AI agent for personal useCreate a simple AI agent for personal use without programming: a tailored assistant with a role, rules and your reference documents.
- How to have the AI do research and synthesis on its ownHaving the AI do research and synthesis on its own: a precise question, sources with links to verify and the points where the sources disagree.
- What an AI agent is (and how it differs from a chatbot)What an AI agent is and how it differs from a chatbot: the first acts and uses tools to carry out a goal, the second just answers.