Episode #47 - Exploring the future of APIs and how to secure them

Ink8r (in·​cu·​ba·​tor) Podcast

In this exciting episode of The Incubator Podcast, co-hosts Satbir Sran and Darren Boyd sit down with Reza Shafii, Senior Vice President of Product at Kong Inc., to discuss the ever-evolving landscape of API management, service mesh technologies, and the future of developer platforms.
A key focus of the conversation is the convergence of API management and platform engineering, and how this integration is changing the way enterprises approach infrastructure, developer productivity, and system reliability. Reza explains how Kong is building innovative tools such as Kong Mesh and Insomnia to simplify the API development process, enhance security, and deliver exceptional performance for high-demand use cases. He also touches on the challenges and opportunities of adopting service mesh technology and how Kong’s approach differs from other platforms, focusing on making deployment easier and less intrusive for operators.
Another exciting topic is the rise of AI-driven APIs, where Reza emphasizes how the rapid advancement of AI technologies, such as large language models (LLMs), is being enabled by APIs. He highlights how Kong is positioning itself to support developers working with AI and machine learning models, introducing features like Kong AI Gateway to streamline the integration and management of AI-based APIs.
Looking ahead, Reza gives a glimpse into Kong’s future direction. With its Kong Connect platform, the company is building a robust ecosystem that enables customers to access API gateways, observability tools, API portals, and more — all through an incremental, self-service approach. Kong’s focus remains on providing flexible solutions that meet the diverse needs of its users, from individual developers to large enterprises.
Don’t miss this in-depth conversation about the future of APIs, platform engineering, service mesh, and Kong’s role in shaping the API-driven future of enterprise technology.