Image Recognition MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides AI-powered image recognition and description capabilities using OpenAI’s vision models.

Overview

This MCP server enables AI assistants to analyze and describe images through a simple URL-based interface. It leverages OpenAI’s powerful vision models to provide detailed descriptions of images, making it easy to integrate image analysis capabilities into your AI workflows.

Features

• Image Analysis: Analyze images from URLs and get detailed descriptions
• OpenAI Integration: Uses OpenAI’s latest vision models for accurate image recognition
• MCP Protocol: Fully compatible with the Model Context Protocol standard
• TypeScript: Built with TypeScript for type safety and better development experience
• Simple API: Easy-to-use interface for image description requests

Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+
• npm or yarn
• OpenAI API key

MCP Client Configuration

To use this server with an MCP client, add the following configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "image-recognition": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@mcp-s/image-recognition-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-actual-openai-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

⚠️ IMPORTANT: The env section with your OpenAI API key is required - this is the only way the MCP server can function.

Usage

Available Tools

describe-image

Analyzes an image from a URL and provides a detailed description.

Parameters:

• imageUrl (string): The URL of the image to analyze

Example:

{
  "tool": "describe-image",
  "arguments": {
    "imageUrl": "https://example.com/image.jpg"
  }
}

Response:

{
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "text",
      "text": "The image shows a beautiful sunset over a mountain landscape with vibrant orange and pink colors in the sky..."
    }
  ]
}

Integration with AI Assistants

This MCP server can be integrated with various AI assistants that support the MCP protocol, such as:

• Claude Desktop
• Other MCP-compatible AI systems

Development

Project Structure

image-recognition-mcp/
├── src/
│   └── index.ts          # Main server implementation
├── dist/                 # Compiled JavaScript output
├── package.json          # Project dependencies and scripts
├── tsconfig.json         # TypeScript configuration
└── README.md            # This file

Error Handling

The server includes robust error handling for:

• Invalid image URLs
• Network connectivity issues
• OpenAI API errors
• Invalid input parameters

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Server fails to start or doesn’t work:

• ✅ Check if OpenAI API key is set: This is the #1 cause of issues

  echo $OPENAI_API_KEY  # Should show your API key
  

• ✅ Verify API key is valid: Test with OpenAI’s API directly