Steps toward great agent experience every API provider can take today
Blog post from Stainless
In recent years, the rise of AI-assisted coding, termed "agentic engineering," has transformed how developers interact with APIs, with many now using AI agents to write, test, and debug code. This shift has prompted the need for an enhanced focus on agent experience (AX) for API providers, which involves ensuring that AI agents can efficiently discover, comprehend, and autonomously operate APIs while being aligned with human oversight. AX is seen as an extension of developer experience (DX) and requires comprehensive documentation, consistent interfaces, and clear error messages, tailored for AI agents. The growing adoption of AI coding tools, as evidenced by surveys showing 85% to 90% of developers utilizing AI, underscores the competitive advantage of providing a seamless AX, particularly for public APIs like those from Stripe, Twilio, and Google. Internally, large organizations benefit from AX by enabling engineers to leverage AI tools for enhanced productivity. Establishing a robust API foundation with complete OpenAPI specs and idiomatic SDKs is crucial, as this groundwork will remain valuable amidst evolving agent interface standards. Platforms like Stainless are highlighted for their role in generating SDKs and documentation directly from OpenAPI specs, allowing API providers to stay current with emerging agent standards without extensive rework. As the agent interface landscape continues to evolve rapidly, API providers are encouraged to prioritize foundational elements and partner with platforms that track these developments to maintain relevance and support AI-assisted developers effectively.