MySQL is one of the most popular databases for web applications, and ChatGPT is one of the most widely used AI tools. Connecting them through Sequel's MCP server gives ChatGPT live access to your MySQL data. You just type your question and get an answer.
What You'll Accomplish
Once connected, you can ask ChatGPT:
- "How many customers do we have in the United States?"
- "What were our top-selling products last month?"
- "Are there any pending orders that haven't shipped yet?"
Prerequisites
- A Sequel account: Sign up free at sequel.sh
- A running MySQL database: local or cloud-hosted
- A ChatGPT Plus, Team, or Enterprise account: required for custom MCP apps
Step 1: Connect Your MySQL Database to Sequel
Sign in to sequel.sh and click Data Sources in the left sidebar.
Click New Connection. On the "Choose a connector" page, select MySQL.
Fill in two fields:
- Connection Name: a memorable label, e.g.
MySQL Production - Connection String: your full MySQL connection string:
mysql://username:password@host:3306/database_name
Click Connect to verify and save.
Recommended: Create a read-only user before connecting:
CREATE USER 'sequel_reader'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'secure_password'; GRANT SELECT ON your_database.* TO 'sequel_reader'@'%'; FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
Step 2: Add Sequel to ChatGPT
First, enable Developer Mode. Open ChatGPT and go to Settings -> Apps. Click Advanced Settings and toggle Developer Mode on.
Developer Mode lets you add unverified MCP apps. Note that it disables ChatGPT's Memory feature while active.
Now go back to Settings -> Apps and click Create App. Fill in the details:
- Name:
Sequel - Description:
Sequel AI Data Analytics(optional) - MCP Server URL:
https://api.sequel.sh/mcp - Authentication: OAuth
Check "I understand and want to continue", then click Create.
Sequel's authorization page will open in your browser. Review the permissions and click Allow access.
Once authorized, Sequel will appear in your Apps list and you're ready to query.
Step 3: Query Your MySQL Database
Using my MySQL database, how many users signed up this week?
What's the average order value for customers in California?
Show me all products that have been out of stock for more than 7 days.
What You Can Do Now
- Sales and marketing analysis: ask "Which email campaign drove the most sign-ups this month?"
- Support and operations: answer customer questions by querying order or account status directly
- Product insights: ask "What features are most-used by paying customers?"
- Data validation: ask "Are there any records missing a required field?" before exports or migrations