Stack Overflow introduces an API for AI models that want to access the platform’s knowledge. Google is a launch partner of Gemini, which is becoming an intelligent help desk for developers.

Google’s Gemini generative AI model will soon be able to answer developer questions in a meaningful and valuable way. For this purpose, Gemini can draw on the knowledge of Stack Overflow. The website has introduced a special API, OverflowAPI, to enable such integration in a sustainable and controlled manner. The collaboration will launch as a preview during Google Cloud Next in April.

Control over valuable data

The collaboration is not exclusive: The OverflowAPI is generally also available to other parties. It is unclear what the financial terms of the agreement are. More important is the fact that Stack Overflow has taken control of its valuable knowledge data itself. LLMs are not allowed to simply work with the data that Stack Overflow provides, but only via the API and with permission.

Stack Overflow is the second major party to take back control of its own content. Reddit has previously protected its own platform’s APIs and was able to secure a valuable licensing deal with an AI player two weeks ago.

The protected APIs, linked to user agreements, are a logical consequence of the emergence of generative AI in general and ChatGPT in particular. To train its models, OpenAI shamelessly fed its algorithms relevant data from the Internet without regard to copyright law. That’s why ChatGPT can now provide answers or generate images based on articles, research or artwork from people who never gave their permission.

Stack Overflow is a premier place for developers to ask each other questions and provide answers. The expertise there can be meaningfully leveraged through generative AI.