Artificial intelligence is redefining how software is built and managed – and application programming interfaces are no exception. These AI-ready APIs, microservices and agentic infrastructure are coming together as a new era of enterprise software emerges, defined by intelligence, automation and seamless connectivity.
Kong Inc. has looked to respond to these trends and shape the next era of enterprise software. As enterprises prepare for the upcoming Kong API Summit, building AI-ready API programs has become a critical priority, according to Paul Nashawaty, principal analyst at theCUBE Research.
“One of the primary considerations is ensuring that APIs are machine-consumable,” he said. “AI agents require APIs that are structured, contextual, traceable and accessible on demand. This goes beyond traditional data pipelines, as enterprises must prepare content for environments where AI agents can continuously query, reason and act across systems without human intervention. Equally important is the underlying data infrastructure — data must be organized and enriched in a way that supports seamless AI interactions, enabling agents to build upon knowledge consistently and reliably.”
This month, Nashawaty will discuss the future of connected applications and AI-ready API programs. Join theCUBE on Oct. 15 for live coverage of Kong’s API Summit: The API Summit for the Agentic Era on theCUBE, News Media’s livestreaming studio. (* Disclosure below.)
AI-ready APIs and AI monetization
Over the past few months, Kong has sought to strengthen its AI governance capabilities and expand API and AI monetization. Recent announcements from Kong include new advancements in AI governance and the acquisition of OpenMeter to enable usage-based monetization.
“We’re seeing greenfield use cases across startups and large enterprises where new business units are being launched around AI and [large language models],” said Ross Kukulinski, vice president of product at Kong, earlier this year. “OpenMeter provides the metering engine they need.”
Moving forward, another key focus in the industry is selecting AI-oriented integration platforms, or iPaaS, that can manage complex data flows while maintaining compliance, according to Nashawaty. These platforms must facilitate smooth integration with AI models and provide the necessary tools to monitor, secure and optimize API interactions.
“Security and compliance remain top concerns, especially with the proliferation of AI, which introduces new attack surfaces and risks such as unauthorized access, data leakage or API misuse,” Nashawaty said. “Enterprises must implement robust security measures while adhering to evolving regulatory requirements to ensure both operational resilience and trust.”
These subjects and more will be a main focus during Kong’s API Summit. TheCUBE will provide full coverage of the event while providing analyst-driven commentary about APIs, microservices and agentic infrastructure. You can follow theCUBE’s wall-to-wall coverage for firsthand insights.
TheCUBE event livestream
Don’t miss theCUBE’s coverage of Kong’s API Summit on Oct. 15. Plus, you can watch theCUBE’s event coverage on-demand after the live event.
How to watch theCUBE interviews
We offer you various ways to watch theCUBE’s coverage of Kong’s API Summit, including theCUBE’s dedicated website and YouTube channel. You can also get all the coverage from this year’s events on News.
TheCUBE podcast
News’s “theCUBE Pod” is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, which you can enjoy while on the go. During each podcast, News’s John Furrier and Dave Vellante unpack the biggest trends in enterprise tech — from AI and cloud to regulation and workplace culture — with exclusive context and analysis.
News also produces our weekly “Breaking Analysis” program, where Dave Vellante examines the top stories in enterprise tech, combining insights from theCUBE with spending data from Enterprise Technology Research, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Guests
During theCUBE’s coverage of Kong’s API Summit, theCUBE analysts will facilitate insightful conversations with company executives and industry professionals about building AI-ready APIs, the role of intelligent gateways in securing traffic and how AI-driven observability turns streaming telemetry into action.
(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for Kong’s API Summit. Neither Kong Inc., the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or News.)
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