Threads API Launches, Tinybird $30M, Akamai Buys Noname Security
The API Changelog issue 2024.27
This is issue 2024.27 of the API Changelog, a mix of API news, commentary, and opinion. In this issue, you'll get to know the most relevant API-related information from the weeks of June 17 and 24, 2024. Subscribe now, so you never miss an issue of the API Changelog.
News highlight
Meta has publicly released its Threads API, allowing developers to create more interactive and manage experiences. Developers now have access to publishing, content retrieval, reply management, and analytics tools.
We first reported the launch of Threads API on issue 2023.44. At that time there was a concern that opening the API could increase the amount of publisher content and decrease the number of end-user-generated posts on the platform. Despite that risk, Meta announced it would open the Threads API on June 2024, as we noticed on issue 2024.10. Well, they didn’t fail their promise and now, finally, the Threads API is available.
According to TechCrunch, both Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, posted about the API release on two separate Threads posts. While Zuckerberg’s post was telegraphic, Mosseri felt passionate about the launch, mentioning it helps “businesses and creators manage their Threads presence at scale.”
Something else the API can help with is the creation of third-party native apps where they don’t exist today. “As developers explore the potential of the API, we can expect to see a surge in new tools and features that will enhance the way we connect and interact on the platform,” reports PhoneArena.
Threads has been testing the newly launched API with popular tools such as Hootsuite and Sprinklr, according to TheVerge. Their coverage of the launch confirms that Meta is looking “to see if developers will be able to easily build a third-party Threads app with this new API that’s not connected to a social media management platform.”
Meta launching the Threads API publicly is just one of the things we’re covering in this issue. Keep reading to see what else has happened.
This issue of the API Changelog was crafted with the help of Flotiq.
Flotiq is an intuitive content management system for designing OpenAPI-compliant APIs, offering unparalleled extensibility to accelerate development with easy-to-use SDKs, comprehensive API documentation, and a user-friendly interface for seamless API and content integration.
Announcements
Canva has launched Connect APIs to streamline workflow integration and collaboration for businesses with popular platforms like Slack and Salesforce. The platform augments its toolset for developers with new APIs for design, video, and image editing, and launches a Partner Program to foster app creation and monetization. See additional coverage on SDTimes, and The Indian Express.
Glide announced its GSMA Open Gateway API beta on Google Cloud, featuring APIs from Telefonica, MASORANGE, and EnStream. The release enables developers to build applications using CSP network capabilities via Google Cloud Marketplace.
MCAN Financial Group has partnered with Portfolio+ Inc. to launch a new direct-to-client GIC channel. The collaboration utilizes Portfolio+'s technology to offer secure, competitive GICs, with benefits like CDIC insurance and digital ease of use.
TM Forum and GSMA showcased at DTW24 - Ignite collaborations for API standardization, enabling CSPs to efficiently offer global network services. ClearX's Glide launched a beta marketplace for Open Gateway APIs on Google Cloud, while TM Forum and MEF aligned APIs for streamlined NaaS automation.
Moesif has joined the AWS ISV Accelerate Program to connect with AWS Sales and offer enhanced API monetization. The partnership provides co-sell support and empowers efficient API strategy execution for a wider audience. See additional coverage on sdxcentral.
Funding and M&A
Tinybird, a data startup, recently nabbed $30 million in Series B funding, boosting its valuation to $240 million. The company streamlines real-time data utilization for businesses without traditional ETL processes and has tripled its revenue, attracting clients like Vercel and Canva.
Cube, a startup offering a data management platform, secured $25 million to enhance its semantic layer, aiming to simplify data analytics. The recent funding will expand Cube's data modeling, interoperability, and performance capabilities, supporting more BI tools and interactive analytics. See additional coverage on Silicon Angle.
Trustwise, a generative AI risk management company, has launched its Optimize:ai product and secured $4 million in seed funding. Optimize:ai offers an API to manage AI application performance risks and reduce costs, complying with international AI standards.
Substrate Labs, a startup from ex-Stripe and Pulumi engineers secured an $8M seed investment to enhance AI system modularity with APIs. The API, aimed at running multiple AI models efficiently, was launched with early adopters like Substack and Maven. See additional coverage on sdxcentral, and The Galveston County Daily News.
Eighteen-year-olds Christopher Fitzgerald and Nicholas Van Landschoot founded APIGen after receiving a $500,000 pre-seed investment from Varana Capital. Their startup aims to simplify the creation of APIs through natural language processing.
AI
OpenAI plans to restrict its AI technology and API usage in China and others, as per local media reports. Chinese firms received emails about the upcoming blockade on API access, effective from July 9. See additional coverage on DigiTimes Asia, MediaNama, and msn.
Alibaba Cloud Bailian plans to offer an affordable alternative for foundation model replacements for Chinese users of OpenAI. Details on the replacement plan were not provided as the window closed.
Google's Gemini API introduces context caching to save costs and improve AI workflow efficiency by storing repeated input tokens. Context caching reduces token transmission costs, enhances performance, and provides developers control over caching persistence with TTL settings.
Anthropic launches Claude 3.5 Sonnet, outperforming competitors and previous models in coding, reasoning, and multilingual tasks. Claude 3.5 Sonnet also offers improved visual reasoning, is available on multiple platforms, and introduces Artifacts for real-time content integration.
Salesforce's new Models API offers flexible AI integration within their ecosystem, highlighting safety with the Einstein Trust Layer. This advancement assists developers and IT leaders in adopting responsible AI, while aligning with Salesforce's secure AI strategies.
Elastic introduced Playground, a tool for easy experimentation with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) in LLMs. Playground supports A/B testing across different model providers and integrates with inference APIs like Cohere and Azure AI Studio.
Fintech
1inch, a Decentralised finance (DeFi) platform, has partnered with Blockaid, a Web3 security provider, to enhance its ecosystem's security. This collaboration aims to fortify protection against digital threats. See additional coverage on Cointelegraph.
Prometeo, a Uruguayan fintech, launched its US account validation solution, aimed at reducing phishing and fraud. The platform connects to 500+ financial institutions in 11 countries, with expanding coverage in Latin America.
Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT) announced new integrations with Fannie Mae's Mission Score API and product grids for enhanced mortgage transparency and pricing. These MCT integrations facilitate better margins and pricing for borrowers, leveraging Fannie Mae's mission objectives.
Security
Akamai Technologies has completed the acquisition of API security company Noname Security to strengthen API protection across various customer deployment needs. The acquisition is set to enhance Akamai's scale through Noname's sales, marketing, and established channel relationships. See additional coverage on sdxcentral.
Cequence announced a partnership with Singularity Tech to provide a holistic API security and compliance solution. The partnership addresses API sprawl, compliance, and cybersecurity challenges, backed by Cequence's UAP platform.
The 2024 Salt Security Report reveals that 95% experienced API security issues, with 37% facing attacks, highlighting the need for better security strategies. Despite the risks, only 7.5% have 'advanced' API security programs, and a mere 10% have implemented an API posture governance strategy.