Kong Enters Japan, Zuplo $9M, OpenAI Assistants API
The API Changelog issue 2023.46
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This is issue 2023.46 of the API Changelog, a weekly mix of API news, commentary, and opinion. In this issue, you'll get to know the most relevant API-related information from the week of November 6, 2023. Subscribe now, so you never miss an issue of the API Changelog.
Announcements
Maersk Supply Service has selected Fleet Data IoT platform from Inmarsat Maritime to help optimize the performance of its first vessel battery installation onboard. An end-user API gathers data from onboard equipment, automatically organizes it, synchronizes it, and uploads it to the customer’s visualization tools. See additional coverage on Digital Ship.
Oyster HR launched Oyster Embedded, Oyster API, and integrations with Zapier, Personio, and Slack, making its global hiring platform accessible to anyone. The Oyster API will help partners and customers easily connect Oyster with tools of their choice. See additional coverage on Businesswire and The Daily News.
Sony announced the ending of the support for X/Twitter integration on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, most likely due to the social media platform's API changes. See additional coverage on Mashable, Techdirt, and The Verge.
FastSpring announced that 1ClickPay streamlines the checkout process improves customer experience, and Offers API to maximize revenue by strategically offering upsells and alternative offers. These new features were designed to boost subscription revenue. See additional coverage on Indo-Asian News Service.
Traefik Hub introduced API Version Custom Resource Definition (CRD) for flexible API versioning. This latest update modernizes API runtime operations for platform teams that frequently encounter change management and incident management challenges. See additional coverage on Businesswire.
Chamberlain Group has stirred discussions by implementing restrictions on MyQ API access. This move serves as a reminder of how smart home tech has empowered countless individuals while also raising important questions about access and control in the rapidly evolving landscape of connected devices. See additional coverage on VigourTimes, PCTablet, Forbes, and POCNetwork.
Kong Inc. is expanding into the Japanese market through a joint venture with Japan Cloud. The partnership will leverage Japan Cloud's local expertise to support the adoption of Kong's cloud API platform enabling fast, reliable, and secure digital experiences.
Solo.io updated Gloo Gateway to support Kubernetes Gateway API. The Kubernetes Gateway API reshapes traffic management in the cloud-native ecosystem and the API empowers users to efficiently manage ingress traffic within Kubernetes. See additional coverage on GlobeNewsWire, IT News Online, and Afternoon Headlines.
ETSI established a Software Development Group (SDG) called OpenCAPIF to develop an open-source, Common API Framework aligned with 3GPP's standards. OpenCAPIF will enable developers to test network applications, and publish and consume APIs, reducing friction and speeding deployment in 5G Networks. See additional coverage on The Fast Mode, Telecom TV, and eeNews.
Funding
Zuplo, who helps us craft this newsletter, raised $9 million in a seed round led by Trilogy Equity Partners. The Seattle-based company aims to help companies launch and manage their APIs.
Lunar.dev raised $6 million in seed funding led by Uncork Capital for its API consumption management solution. The company has developed an open-source tool that provides organizations with oversight and control over their API usage, helping them manage performance bottlenecks, production issues, and unexpected costs. Lunar.dev aims to revolutionize the API landscape by making API management continuous and simple, focusing on API consumers rather than providers. See additional coverage on Techcrunch, Yahoo!finance, and Finsmes.
AI
OpenAI introduced GPT-4 Turbo, a more efficient and knowledgeable AI model with expanded capabilities, and the Assistants API, which simplifies the creation of AI-driven applications with improved function calling and other features. It also announced the update on the GPT-3.5 Turbo model with a larger context window and enhanced performance, introducing multimodality with image processing and text-to-speech API. See additional coverage on Techcrunch, Search Engine Journal, and InfoQ.
Alibaba announced the launch of its new AI suite. The pilot launch of Aidge, its first commerce-centric, AI-powered suite of APIs is poised to enhance business performance and reduce costs for global enterprises. For more see the Technology and ChannelX.
Benjamin Crozat provides a tutorial step-by-step with instructions for developers to access and use GPT-4 Turbo's API. The article also introduces the new JSON mode for consistent JSON output and provides pricing information.
OpenAI’s Assistants API is opening up opportunities for developers. This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions to set up and run code using the API. More like this on ghacks.net and Geeky Gadgets.
Fintech
Bibby Financial Services and United Trust Bank have subscribed and gone live with NETSOL's Flex API and cloud-based calculation engine. NETSOL's Appex Now marketplace, the world's first marketplace for API products in the credit, finance, and leasing industry, is gaining registrations and deployments. See additional coverage on GlobeNewsWire.
Investec partnered with fintech firm Verto allowing South African businesses to send and receive international payments through a single API or Verto's web and mobile platform. Investec claims to be the only bank in South Africa to have opened its APIs to individual clients.
Alkami Technology and Plaid have partnered to provide financial institution clients in the US with access to Plaid's direct API services. This partnership allows clients to benefit from direct API access to Plaid via Core Exchange, improving connectivity to their digital financial ecosystem. See additional coverage on Fintech Finance News, IBS Intelligence, The Payper, and Crowdfund Insider.
Security
Wallarm released the Q3-2023 API ThreatStats™ report highlighting a surge in API threats. The report reveals critical vulnerabilities like injections and API data leaks, that have recently impacted leading firms, including Netflix, VMware, and SAP. See additional coverage on Backersfield.com.
Sumo Logic urged users to reset API keys and other potentially exposed credentials, after discovering a security breach. Customer data has been and remains encrypted, and there have been no impacts on their networks or systems. See additional coverage on Cyber Security News, Techcrunch, SC Media, and Bleepingcomputer.
Noname API Security Platform announced it received the highest possible scores for Security, Functionality, Deployment, and Interoperability, being named an Overall Leader in the KuppingerCole Leadership Compass report for API Security and Management. See additional coverage on Investorsobserver.