Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · 5 · Building with AI: APIs, tools and agents

AI API

Also known as: LLM API, Model API

An AI API is a programming interface through which software sends inputs — prompts, documents, images — to an AI model hosted by a provider and receives its output, usually billed per token and governed by the provider’s usage and data terms.

  • Intermediate
  • Technical project managers
  • Developers

In one sentence

AI APIs explained: how applications call hosted models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others — tokens, keys, limits and terms.

Example

A content management system calls an AI API to suggest metadata for each new topic; the request contains the topic text and a schema, the response contains the proposed values.

Why it matters on your learning path

  • Technical project managers: API use means a vendor contract: check data retention, training use, region, rate limits and service levels.
  • Developers: Keep API keys server-side, handle rate limits and errors, log token use and wrap the provider behind your own interface to stay flexible.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

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