Strava Restricts API Access, Kong $175M, SixthSense API Security Observability
The API Changelog issue 2024.48
This is issue 2024.48 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 week of November 18, 2024. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue of the API Changelog.
News highlight
Kong, a cloud API tech developer, secured $175M in funding at a $2 billion valuation, led by Tiger Global and Balderton. CEO Augusto Marietti's company will invest in global expansion and enhancing AI capabilities across its product suite while improving customer experience.
The company is uniquely positioned to become the universal broker of strategic API traffic, helping customers consolidate disparate systems and build a de-facto world's API inventory. Kong is investing in product innovation, expanding API runtimes, advancing Insomnia and AI-infused applications, and supporting open-source projects. The company is also leaning towards global expansion with new GTM investments and adding world-class talent across Kong. As AI transitions from UI-based consumption to machine-based services via APIs, new data centers and increased electricity consumption will be required, necessitating a new networking infrastructure to connect all in the cloud.
See additional coverage on Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, The Stack, TFN, San Francisco Business Times, and siliconAngle.
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Announcements
Wirelesscar vehicle services and products, including API suites, are now available on AWS Marketplace for automotive OEMs. As an APN Automotive Competency Partner, WirelessCar offers secure, scalable solutions with support services to streamline integration and manage lifecycles. See additional coverage on news.cision.com.
The Cox Automotive Deal API is streamlining the car-buying process by ensuring deal consistency across online and in-store platforms. It seamlessly integrates data, touching 1.5M deals monthly, and offers 2,800 data points for partners to enhance omnichannel experiences.
The launch of the BioTrack NY API is critical for New York's Seed-to-Sale cannabis tracking and regulatory compliance. All licensees must integrate with BioTrack by January 17, 2025, for transparency and consumer safety.
Transportation and supply chain services provider Watco and geospatial IT services company GCS collaborated to develop GeoConnect, a web-based geospatial tool for railcar storage and trans-loading site selection. GeoConnect, integrated with Watco's WordPress site using ReactJS and ArcGIS API, features interactive maps and detailed location information, enhancing efficiency for Watco's customers in finding suitable railcar storage and industrial property.
Strava tightened API agreement to prioritize user privacy, affecting <0.1% of third-party apps. AI innovations will proceed responsibly, emphasizing user control and opt-out options. See additional coverage on cybernews, Velo, techradar, LifeHacker, The Verge, msn, and ars Technica.
Stirista unveiled its API Marketing Suite, offering marketers real-time data solutions and seamless integrations. The suite features APIs for lead scoring, customer profiling, and multi-touch attribution to optimize targeted marketing campaigns. See additional coverage on MTC.
MikMak, a global leader in commerce enablement and analytics, has launched the MikMak Insights API. The API integrates MikMak commerce intelligence data into Data Lakes, Analytics Platforms, and Business Intelligence tools like Tableau, PowerBI, and Google Data Studio.
Console Connect unveiled the LSO API Adaptor, an open-source tool on GitHub, to advance API standardization and speed up developer adoption. Embracing MEF LSO APIs via this adaptor could unlock new revenue streams by improving service automation and operational interactions.
Quantinuum launched Nexus, an integrated quantum computing platform for managing and executing workflows. Nexus supports advanced features and is open for broader use after successful beta testing with varied applications.
Microsoft has launched Fabric API for GraphQL with enhancements like Azure SQL support and saved credential authentication. It also includes detailed monitoring tools, CI/CD integration, and no extra costs for users.
Malaysia-based U Mobile launched an API platform as part of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, a first for the country. The effort, aimed at accelerating new service development, accompanies other platforms backed by global operators like Telefonica and Vodafone Group. See additional coverage on Telecom Review, TechNave, BusinessToday, Developing Telecoms, and Vanilla+.
Funding
MealMe, once a price comparison app, transitioned to offering B2B API services for food ordering and inventory management. The company secured $8 million in Series A funding to expand its services and integrate with a variety of platforms.
Apaleo, a cloud-based property management platform, has secured a $21 million investment spearheaded by PSG Equity for expansion and development. The investment supports Apaleo's goals for global growth and platform innovation in various accommodation sectors.
MNT-Halan, Egypt's seventh-largest financial institution, continues to expand in the Middle East following a $157.5 million funding round. The company's proprietary core banking system, Neuron, drives financial inclusion and customer engagement in underserved markets.
AI
NVIDIA has launched Garak, an open-source vulnerability scanner for generative AI systems. It evaluates LLMs for vulnerabilities like hallucinations, data leaks, and misinformation. Garak supports Hugging Face Hub generative models, replicate text models, and OpenAI API chat and continuation models. NVIDIA is enhancing its features.
ElevenLabs launched a platform for building AI conversational bots with customizable features like tone and response length. The startup competes with voice AI companies, betting on customization and model-switching to gain an advantage over giants like OpenAI.
AnyChat, by Gradio's AI lead Ahsen Khaliq, lets developers smoothly swap between various LLMs like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and others on one interface. It combines open-source and proprietary AI models for flexibility and growth, supporting secure access and multimodal AI capabilities for text and image analysis.
Microsoft unveiled new Imaging APIs for Windows Copilot Runtime at Ignite 2024, enhancing AI integration for on-device experiences. The APIs, including Image Super Resolution and Object Erase, are rolling out in Windows App SDK 1.7 Experimental 2 in January 2025 and are already used by apps like Adobe Premiere Pro.
OpenAI unveiled a real-time API beta for near-instant AI conversational apps, supporting text, audio, and function calls. Despite staff departures, the firm is aiding developers in enhancing GPT-4o, postponing new AI models, including Sora.
Appy Pie Endpoint has launched Virtual Try-On APIs that enhance the online shopping experience by enabling virtual product trials. These APIs use AI and augmented reality to integrate digital fitting rooms into e-commerce, boosting customer engagement and purchase confidence.
Google AI Studio and Gemini API have introduced Grounding to enhance Google Search accuracy and freshness. YouTube adds an AI-generated 'Veo in Dream Screen' background feature for Shorts creators in select countries.
Fintech
Wirex Pay, the non-custodial payment network, has launched its Payment API for easy integration with wallets, dApps, and fintech. The API offers stablecoin payments globally without custody risk, leveraging Visa and Polygon's technology. See additional coverage on Electronic Payments International.
Sensedia has been recognized as an API Specialist in Altitude Consulting's whitepaper, Guide to the Best Open Finance Platforms. The global leader in delivering API solutions was praised for its expertise in API management and integration solutions and for proactively embracing open banking and open finance. See additional coverage on Fintech Futures and businesswire.
Mastercard's MTN has integrated with Kinexys Digital Payments to improve B2B cross-border payments for business apps. The collaboration aims to enhance transaction efficiency through better transparency and faster settlement times. See additional coverage on Crypto News Flash and Future Banking.
Security
Rakuten SixthSense unveiled two new solutions, enhancing its observability offerings to meet rising global demands for data integrity and security. These tools cater to critical sectors and SMBs, promoting secure data management and API protection. See additional coverage on DataQuest.
Malicious packages named gptplus and claudeai-eng, mimicking AI models, delivered JarkaStealer malware through PyPI with over 1,700 downloads each. The malware stole sensitive data and was part of a global supply chain attack, raising concerns about open-source component security.