Building APIs for Developers and AI Agents

In this episode, Alex Rattray, founder of Stainless API, joins a16z partner Jennifer Li to discuss the evolution of APIs and developer platforms. Alex draws parallels between APIs and the human brain, emphasizing their role as the connective tissue of the internet. The conversation explores the challenges developers face with SDK quality, documentation, and versioning, and introduces Model Context Protocol (MCP) as a solution for AI agents interacting with APIs. They delve into the design challenges of creating interfaces for AI agents, the importance of robust and idiomatic SDKs, and the future of API development with AI. Alex shares insights from his experience at Stripe and Stainless API, highlighting the need for clear API standards and platforms that enable developers to focus on high-level business needs while AI handles the complexities of code generation and infrastructure.