Databricks Synthetic Datasets API, Vapi $20M, Prometheus Data Leak
The API Changelog issue 2024.51
This is issue 2024.51 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 December 9, 2024. Subscribe now, so you never miss an issue of the API Changelog.
News highlight
OpenAI ChatGPT and API services suffered an outage, affecting users globally, with the company working on a fix. Meta platforms faced a similar outage earlier, impacting thousands of users in the US.
OpenAI's unprecedented downtime, attributed to a flawed telemetry service, disrupted ChatGPT and other services for three hours. The company intends to implement safeguards for future stability following the complex interaction of failures that caused the outage.
See additional coverage on Gizbot, TechCrunch, Gulf Business, TechInformed, Hindustan Times, and iblnews.org.
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
LexisNexis launched Nexis Data+, an API offering extensive corporate, legal, and financial data, plus AI-ready news content. Nexis Data+ supports AI initiatives and integrates into various analytical workflows to enhance organizational decision-making. See additional coverage on Artificial Lawyer, Enterprise Talk, and MorningStar.
Applied EV unveils its autonomous, cabinless Blanc Robot™, with initial production by mid-2025 in partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation. The Applied EV Blanc Robot is a software-defined machine with safety-rated hardware architecture, controlling all functions and features through secure interfaces, autonomous and AI driving software, and cloud APIs.
Databricks has launched a new API aimed at creating synthetic datasets for testing and development. This tool helps mitigate privacy concerns while enabling realistic data scenario simulations. See additional coverage on Techzine.
Google is boosting developers' access to its Maps Platform APIs and SDKs for free, with increased monthly credits in India starting in 2025. The expanded free model promotes innovation by cutting costs for features like Dynamic Street View and various APIs. See additional coverage on madhyamam and nbw.
Wiremind Cargo integrated SKYPALLET with TAP Air Cargo's Cargospot system, enhancing efficiency in handling air waybill data and flight planning. The collaboration streamlines processes, boosts flight load factors, and reflects Wiremind Cargo's commitment to digitalization and interoperability with existing customer systems.
Hyundai Motor Group integrates Google Maps Platform to enhance global navigation with data on 250 million places. The partnership aims to refine software-defined vehicles and offer advanced in-car infotainment experiences. See additional coverage on The Verge.
MyTrucking has launched new API integration to streamline Australian customer operations, connecting different systems and automating data transfer. Olinda Spring Water testifies to significant time savings and reduced errors by using the API to import orders directly.
TicketsCandy integrates with Mailchimp and Constant Contact, streamlining email marketing for event organizers. Their new Global API Key update simplifies ticket scanning across multiple events.
Funding and M&A
Stainless, founded by Alex Rattray, automates SDK creation from APIs to aid developers and ensure consistency in library updates. With a recent $25 million Series A funding, Stainless aims to expand its team and platform beyond SDK generation. See additional coverage on Stainless, citybiz, digwatch, and SiliconANGLE.
Upvest, a leading European investment infrastructure firm, secured €100 million in a Series C round led by Hedosophia and supported by Sapphire Ventures and existing investors. The company plans to expand its team, UK presence, product range, and financial partnerships while handling over 1 million weekly trades. See additional coverage on TechCrunch, BusinessCloud, Crowdfund Insider, and StartupNews.
Stigg secured $17.5 million in Series A funding to grow its unified monetization platform for engineers, totaling $24 million to date. The company boosts revenue for clients like Miro by providing flexible monetization infrastructure, allowing rapid deployment of pricing models and AI features.
Jiko, a tech and banking platform, completed a $29 million Series C funding to support enterprise market growth. The company will expand and innovate, with industry veterans joining its board and advisory committee.
Vapi raised $20 million in Series A funding to enhance its Voice AI agent deployment platform and reach more customers. Launching earlier this year, Vapi demonstrated swift growth and is now a leading platform supporting diverse industries in implementing conversational AI.
AI
Moments Lab has launched a public API for its AI-driven MXT indexing solution, offering advanced content insights and metadata. The API enables efficient content search and curation by analyzing files for people, logos, speech, and more, boosting discoverability. See additional coverage on SVG.
Google has unveiled a faster, more potent Gemini 2.0 Flash with multimodal output alongside Jules, a coding agent for developers. Gemini 2.0 Flash excels in various benchmarks and includes new output types, while Jules aids in Python and JavaScript tasks. See additional coverage on The Indian Express, TechCrunch, and maginative.
PerfAI, an AI platform, won "Best in DevOps" and "Innovator of the Year" at API World 2024 for its API testing automation. The platform sets industry standards for API Privacy Compliance, Security, and Governance, offering solutions to protect data and ensure regulatory compliance. See additional coverage on News3.
Lambda unveiled its Inference API for cost-effective, scalable access to large language models like Meta's Llama 3.3. The Inference API boasts easy integration, dynamic scaling without infrastructure concerns, and competitive pricing. See additional coverage on VentureBeat.
xAI, the AI company established by Elon Musk, introduced Grok 2, an improved AI chatbot for X users, with a new "Grok button" feature. The updates, which offer faster performance and reduced API pricing, arrive amid a legal dispute with OpenAI and plans to incorporate Aurora image generation. See additional coverage on Deccan chronicles, Cryptopolitan, abp live, and the decoder.
Fintech and Crypto
Novo's Business Credit Card, using Lithic's new API, targets entrepreneurs with flexible credit solutions and management tools. Lithic's Commercial Revolving Credit API allows customized credit card program development, offering choice between fully managed solutions or element control.
Lunar, a financial technology company, has spun off its banking services division, christening the new independent firm Moonrise. The move is meant to enhance focus and accelerate growth within the banking-as-a-service sector.
Method-VM has launched a suite of APIs for lender integration, streamlining the valuation procurement process from start to finish. Keystone Property Finance will be the first to adopt this integration, with expectations to enhance efficiency and reduce operational risk.
Mesh Payments, a corporate payments platform, collaborates with SoFi as its sponsor bank and utilizes SoFi's Galileo for processing. The partnership aims to streamline enterprise expense management and accelerate bringing new solutions to market.
Security
A study by Kong reveals 25% have faced AI-related security threats, though 85% trust in their security, a gap highlighted by 55% experiencing API incidents. Many overlook crucial basics, with only 35% adopting zero-trust architecture, despite 84% expecting AI to complicate API security. See additional coverage on PR Newswire, Fintech Finance News, and AIThority.
ThetaRay launched GenAI Financial Crime Detection Suite, leveraging Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service for enhanced AML and risk management. The suite improves transaction monitoring and compliance, tapping into a $20 trillion annual transaction base across 100+ clients.
Indusface, an application security SaaS provider, has introduced a 72-Hour API Compliance Capability in its SwyftComply service. The new feature allows quick API security and compliance, with existing customers already benefiting from improved defenses and regulatory adherence. See additional coverage on MorningStar, NewChannel6, and Business Standard.
Thousands of internet-exposed Prometheus servers risk data leaks and attacks due to poor authentication. Aqua identified potential for information theft, DoS, RCE, and supply chain attacks via repojacking in Prometheus' setup.