A structured interface allowing software to communicate with other software programmatically, as distinguished from a human-facing interface like a website or app. In the AI context, API access means integrating AI capabilities directly into applications, workflows, or products through code rather than through a chat interface. API terms typically differ significantly from consumer terms: they often permit broader commercial use and integration but impose rate limits, usage-based pricing, data handling obligations, and restrictions on downstream redistribution. Key contractual issues include whether outputs can be used to train competing models, what data is logged and retained, SLA commitments, and how usage is metered and billed.
See: Endpoint; Rate limiting; Service Level Agreement / Service Level Objective; Usage data / telemetry; Zero Data Retention