AI Lessons Learned for API Documentation Writing

API documentation is unlike any other form of technical writing.

It requires a deep understanding of code, developer workflows, and the documentation production process.

Balancing all three has always been challenging.

With AI entering the picture, the landscape is changing faster than ever.

Can AI help API documentation writers work smarter?

What tasks can it accelerate, and where does human expertise remain essential?

Join Robert Delwood, Lead API Documentation Writer at American Express Global Business Travel, as he shares practical lessons from using AI in real-world API documentation projects.

Drawing from hands-on experience, Robert will explore what AI can and cannot do today, how documentation teams can leverage it effectively, and why understanding developers remains critical to creating high-quality API content.

What You’ll Learn

AI Is Not a One-Click Solution

Discover why generating a complete API documentation suite still requires human oversight, product knowledge, and thoughtful documentation strategy.

AI as a Powerful Drafting Assistant

Learn how AI can accelerate content creation by drafting tutorials, overview articles, endpoint descriptions, field explanations, and other documentation assets in minutes.

Why AI Can’t Replace Expertise

Understand the limitations of AI, including factual inaccuracies, biases, and contextual gaps, and why documentation writers must still validate, refine, and customize content.

The Most Versatile Tool in a Writer’s Toolbox

Explore how AI can assist with everything from code analysis and version comparisons to searching codebases, writing pull requests, and streamlining documentation workflows.

Writing Better Prompts for Better Results

Gain practical techniques for crafting effective prompts that generate more accurate, useful, and developer-focused outputs.

Thinking Like a Developer

Learn how adopting a developer mindset can help you use AI more effectively and create documentation that truly serves your audience.

About the Speaker

Robert Delwood is a programmer, writer, and programmer-writer specializing in API documentation. He has nearly two decades of experience creating developer-focused content for APIs, SDKs, and enterprise software. He has held leadership roles at NASA, Microsoft, American Express, and Walmart, where he helped developers successfully adopt complex technologies. Robert believes that great API documentation comes from a combination of high-quality content, a deep understanding of the audience, and the effective use of technology. He has presented at numerous technical conferences, sharing both the principles of excellent API documentation and detailed implementation examples. Now, Robert will demonstrate how AI can accelerate API documentation writing while maintaining technical accuracy, consistency, and a developer-first focus.