API history from REST to AI

The API economy has evolved significantly since the late 1990s with the introduction of REST APIs, which revolutionized inter-app communication by distilling operations into a core set of CRUD requests. The rise of iPaaS providers in the mid-2000s offered a subscription-based service to pre-built integrations, taking over the burden of DIY integrations from developers. However, these solutions had limitations, such as scalability issues and lack of functionality for complex use cases. Embedded iPaaS solutions emerged around 2019, offering low-code integration capabilities, but still faced challenges in handling large-scale customizations and complex integrations. The concept of unified APIs gained traction around 2020, aiming to abstract complexities by amalgamating functionalities into a single API. Universal integration platforms have since emerged, combining the benefits of iPaaS, embedded iPaaS, and unified APIs, eliminating the need for separate integrations and focusing on integration planning with AI-powered code generation.