Figma co-founder Dylan Field recently voiced a nuanced stance on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard designed to enable AI agents to access external data and tools. While expressing enthusiasm for broadening Figma's ecosystem openness, Field remarked at the design company's Config conference in India that MCP is far from perfect and requires significant improvements. Despite these reservations, Figma is actively expanding its involvement with MCP, announcing partnerships with 20 new companies including Amp, ClickUp, Notion, and Meta Muse, underscoring its commitment to supporting multiple standards.

Field has previously criticized aspects of MCP’s implementation, particularly highlighting concerns about asymmetric context sharing. He pointed out that Anthropic, one of MCP’s co-creators, does not make certain resources accessible via the protocol, questioning the openness often touted in discussions around MCP. In response to community feedback and debates, Field indicated that Figma plans to support Pi, an open-source tool, which further signals Figma’s willingness to embrace interoperability despite the protocol’s shortcomings.

During a media briefing, Field elaborated on why Figma remains cautious about fully opening its data through MCP. He cited potential risks of data abuse as a major factor, explaining that exposing more Figma data increases vulnerability. Although most users likely have no malicious intentions, the company must consider safeguarding its data ecosystem against possible exploitation. This measured approach reflects Figma’s effort to balance open collaboration with responsible data security.

Overall, Figma’s CEO advocates for more development and refinement of the MCP standard to better serve the needs of AI and design communities. While welcoming open access to user data for innovation, Field stresses that protocols like MCP should evolve to handle concerns around privacy and secure data exchange more effectively. As Figma continues to support diverse MCP integrations, the company symbolizes a pragmatic path forward in fostering AI-driven collaboration while safeguarding user trust.