Sterling Chin, Postman: Transforming API testing and documentation with AI

In an interview ahead of AI & Big Data Expo Europe, Sterling Chin, Senior Developer Advocate at Postman, shed light on the company’s AI-powered tool Postbot and its impact on API development.

Postbot is Postman’s intelligent assistant designed to tackle two perennial pain points in API development: testing and documentation.

“The major pain points that Postbot solves is allowing you to – by click of a button – generate tests for your APIs, generate documentation,” Chin explained. He added that Postbot can also visualise data, making it easier for developers to interpret large JSON objects.

By tapping into both Postman’s vast knowledge base and a user’s individual workspace, Postbot promises to significantly accelerate development cycles and foster greater collaboration within teams.

AI’s impact on developers: Empowerment, not replacement

Chin firmly dismissed the notion of an “AI apocalypse” leading to mass developer unemployment. Instead, he envisions a future where AI empowers developers to reach new heights of productivity and creativity.

“It’s going to enhance developers’ productivity and it’s going to enhance developers,” Chin emphasised. This collaborative approach, he believes, will be crucial for harnessing the full potential of AI in software development.

While optimistic about AI’s potential, Chin acknowledged concerns surrounding AI code generation, particularly regarding copyright infringement and the use of proprietary data in training models. He stressed Postman’s commitment to ethical AI practices, stating that Postbot is trained exclusively on Postman’s proprietary information and publicly available resources.

Transparency, Chin believes, is paramount in building trust and ensuring responsible AI development. “Open source… we can ensure that we can see the data behind it. That’s why I’ve become a bigger advocate of open-source AI in the last six months.”

The future of API development

Looking ahead, Chin paints an exciting picture of the future API landscape, one where AI acts as a bridge between developers and a world increasingly driven by interconnected services.

“I think we’re going to start to see AIs go out and read someone else’s documentation… As a developer, I could say, ‘Please go connect to this API’,” Chin mused, outlining a future where AI agents streamline API integration, removing technical barriers and unlocking new levels of interoperability.

Chin also teased upcoming developments on Postman’s roadmap, highlighting deeper Postbot integrations and a commitment to becoming a central hub for exploring and evaluating AI APIs.

Practical AI implementation: A look at Postman’s playbook

At this year’s AI & Big Data Expo Europe, Chin will present an “AI/IML playbook” that draws upon Postman’s own experiences in implementing AI solutions. This practical guide will equip attendees with the knowledge and best practices needed to successfully integrate AI into their own workflows and products.

“It’s coming from practicality, the practical implementation of AI here at Postman, going outside of just the toy phase and specifically on how we implemented AI in a way that helps our users and how we went about that,” explains Chin.

With Postbot leading the charge and a clear commitment to responsible AI development, Postman is aiming to empower developers and shape the future of the API landscape for years to come. By addressing key challenges in API testing and documentation, Postman is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-driven development tools.

You can watch our full interview with Sterling Chin below:

Sterling Chin and his Postman colleagues will be at this year’s AI & Big Data Expo Europe to share their expertise. Swing by Postman’s booth at stand #294 to hear more about how solutions like Postbot can improve your workflow.

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Tags: AI, ai and big data expo, ai expo, api, artificial intelligence, coding, documentation, postbot, postman, programming, software development, sterling chin