RAG architectures cover
AI Engineering • 1 min read

RAG vs Agentic RAG vs MCP

A clear mental model for picking the right AI architecture.

RAG gets you answers. Agentic RAG gets you workflows. MCP gets you composable tools that turn your AI into a product surface.

How I decide

  • RAG when you need grounded answers with low latency.
  • Agentic RAG when the model must plan across multiple steps.
  • MCP when multiple services need a consistent, governed tool interface.

The best teams treat each as an architectural layer, not a buzzword. Start simple, validate, then add autonomy when it earns its cost.

Written by Wendy (Chinwendu Enyinna)

AI Product Engineer · Writer of AI Engineering Deep Dive · Helping founders build scalable backend systems