Agent Identity for Claude and GPT via Anima MCP

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) provides a standardized way to connect AI assistants like Claude Desktop and ChatGPT to external tools and data sources. By using the Anima MCP server, you can give your AI models a persistent identity, allowing them to interact with the world through email, phone, and secure credentials.

Installing the Anima MCP Server#

To get started, you'll need the Anima MCP server package. You can install it globally or run it directly using npx.

# Configure the MCP server with your API key
npx @anima/mcp configure --api-key am_live_...
 
# Start the server locally
npx @anima/mcp start

Configuring Claude Desktop#

For Claude Desktop, add the Anima MCP server to your claude_desktop_config.json file. This exposes the full suite of identity tools to the assistant.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "anima": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@anima/mcp", "start"],
      "env": {
        "ANIMA_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Available Tools and Capabilities#

Once configured, your assistant will have access to several high-level tools:

Email and Communication#

• send_email: Send messages from a verified agent identity.
• read_inbox: Retrieve and summarize inbound messages.
• manage_drafts: Create and refine email drafts before sending.

Identity Management#

• check_balance: Monitor funding for card issuing and voice calls.
• get_identity: Retrieve metadata about the current agent identity.
• list_identities: See all identities managed by your organization.

Vault Operations#

• read_secret: Securely retrieve a credential from the vault.
• write_secret: Store a new API key or password for future use.

Use Case: Automated Document Processing#

A common workflow involves an assistant receiving a document via email, processing it with an LLM, and then storing the results or triggering a notification.

User: "Check my agent's email for any invoices from last week, extract the total amount, and save it to the 'finance' vault."

The assistant uses the read_inbox tool to find the emails, processes the attachments, and then uses write_secret to securely store the extracted data in the Anima Vault.

Security Considerations for MCP#

Because MCP tools have direct access to your identity infrastructure, it's essential to follow security best practices. Use a scoped API key for your MCP configuration that only has access to the specific identities you want your assistant to manage.

Regularly monitor your Anima dashboard for tool usage logs. This provides transparency into how your AI models are interacting with your communication and financial infrastructure via the MCP bridge.

By integrating Anima with MCP, you transform your AI models from simple chat interfaces into powerful, identity-aware agents capable of performing complex, real-world tasks.