Why Google's new Interactions API is such a big deal for AI developers

Source: VentureBeat

Background

For the last two years, the fundamental unit of generative AI development has been the “completion.” You send a text prompt to a model, it sends text back, and the transaction ends. If you want to continue the conversation, you have to send the entire history back to the model again. This stateless approach works, but it’s inefficient and limits the kinds of interactions developers can build.

Google’s Interactions API

Google’s new Interactions API changes that paradigm by allowing developers to maintain stateful, multi‑turn conversations directly on the server side. Instead of re‑sending the full dialogue history with each request, the API lets the model keep track of context, enabling richer, more dynamic interactions.

Key Benefits

• Reduced latency – No need to resend large prompt histories.
• Lower token usage – The model only processes new user input, not the entire conversation.
• Simplified code – Developers can focus on building features rather than managing conversation state.

Function Calling

The API also supports “function calling,” where the model can invoke external functions during a conversation. This opens up possibilities for:

• Real‑time data retrieval
• Tool usage
• More complex workflows

These capabilities make it easier to create AI assistants that can, for example, book appointments, fetch live data, or control IoT devices without extensive custom plumbing.

Conclusion

Overall, Google’s Interactions API represents a significant step toward more fluid, efficient, and capable AI‑driven applications, giving developers a powerful new tool to build the next generation of interactive experiences.