Tools vs. Skills vs. MCP

As we transition from passive chatbots to proactive AI Agents, the conversation has shifted from what an AI knows to what an AI can do. To interact with the external world, LLMs need mechanisms to fetch data and execute actions. However, if you’ve spent any time in the agentic AI space recently, you’ve likely been bombarded with overlapping terminology: Tools, Skills, and the rapidly emerging MCP (Model Context Protocol). Are they the same thing? Do they compete? Which one should you build? ...

February 20, 2026 · 6 min · Renren Zhang