Can I build my EDI trading partner connections with AI? Can I build an API to connect with my trading partners with AI?
Not if you want it to work.
If you’ve spent any time around AI-assisted dev tools lately, you’ve heard the phrase “vibe coding.”
Vibe coding is the process where you describe what you want in plain language and let an AI agent generate code, then you steer the system by trying it out, asking for tweaks, and iterating—often without deeply inspecting the code itself.
For example, a vibe coder might ask ChatGPT, “Make me a proprietary API that works with my ERP and allows me to transact with Target.”
Whether you use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, the model will produce some output—but the emphasis is usually on intent and outcomes rather than on clean, reliable code. That mindset, dubbed “vibe coding,” took off in early 2025 and has since been spotlighted by mainstream tech outlets and explainers.
Playing around with AI can be fun, fast, and useful for initial outlines or ideas, but for APIs (which other systems depend on) and EDI (where strict trading-partner rules govern data exchanges), vibe coding runs into hard limits. Let’s break it down.
In the case of JSON, APIs need structure, not vibes
Modern APIs are successful when they are predictable, discoverable, and testable, which is why teams formalize them with specifications such as the JSON Schema.
JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation, a lightweight, text-based format used to represent structured data. It organizes information into key–value pairs and arrays, making it easy for humans and machines to read.
Think of JSON like a digital recipe card. Each recipe has labels (like “Ingredients” or “Steps”) and the details that go with them. Computers use JSON the same way—labels and values—so they can share and understand information without getting confused. Unfortunately for vibe coders, JSON needs clear structure and rules called “schemas” to work.
Without those schemas, you can’t reliably generate documentation, check if the data being sent is valid, or make sure everyone is using the same types. If you try to vibe code it, the worst-case scenario is that it won’t work at all; at best, you’ll end up with brittle integrations and hard-to-trace errors—issues API experts have warned about for years.
XML: Nested Tags, Strict Rules, Zero Room for Vibes
Modern APIs and enterprise integrations also rely heavily on XML, or Extensible Markup Language. XML is a text-based format that uses nested tags to structure data. Think of XML like a set of Russian nesting dolls—each tag can contain another and another and another, allowing you to create complex hierarchies for key documents like invoices, shipments, or customer records.
Just like JSON, XML only works well when it follows strict rules. These rules are defined in schemas (XSDs) that specify what tags are allowed, what order they appear in, and what kind of values they can hold.
Without a clearly defined structure, XML files can get messy and confusing, which makes different systems fail to work together. In EDI and VAN setups, trading partners expect you to follow the exact rules, and if your file doesn’t match, they’ll reject it right away.
API Security: Also, Not A Vibe.
As Kleinschmidt CEO, Dan Heinen notes, “If you’re building an API, you’re going to put an endpoint out on the Internet. You must think about security. You’ll have to go to the OWASP community and look at best practices to keep everything secure.”
OWASP or the Open Worldwide Application Security Project is an online community that provides resources on cybersecurity best practices. The OWASP API Security Top 10 lists some of the most common and dangerous problems people run into when building their own API such as broken logins, unlimited resource grabs, and other flaws that hackers love to exploit.
Good dev teams use smart checks: code reviews, testing rules, security layers like gateways and rate limits. These guardrails stop mistakes before they turn into disasters.
But if you skip all that and just “vibe code” without any structure or best practices in place, you’re leaving the door wide open. That kind of shortcut makes it easier for attackers to break into systems, crash systems, or steal data.
EDI is the opposite of vibes: standards are the rule
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is an older—but still mission-critical—way of exchanging business documents (orders, invoices, shipment notices) between companies. Far from being “loose,” EDI runs on strict syntax and message standards:
In North America, X12 transaction sets define the structure and content for hundreds of document types like purchase orders, invoices, and more.
Outside of North America, UN/EDIFACT (ISO 9735) sets the rules and message structures, maintained by the UN/CEFACT.
Bottom line: EDI comes with rules baked in.
If you’re being asked by a trading partner to connect via EDI, you’re agreeing on exact standards and a messaging structure that you then validate and test before sending.
So, can ChatGPT handle EDI for you? The answer is no, not if you want it to work.
Precision is the point.
EDI isn’t a “best-effort,” and it’s not based solely on prompts or context. EDI must conform to a published standard plus partner-specific guides. An AI-generated map that “seems to pass” will fail in production when a partner rejects it. The fallout for you? Chargebacks, shipping delays, or blocked payments.
Testing isn’t optional.
With EDI, your trading partners expect testing and acknowledgments to prove your messages meet specific rules. That’s incompatible with vibe coding where the individual inputting the prompt can’t explain exactly what the output means or how to read it.
In short: EDI is a discipline, success comes from standards, not vibes.
So, what can I use AI for?
You can use AI to put a pair of sunglasses on a picture of your dog or get an idea about what caused the War of 1812, but when it comes to EDI and API integrations, just because AI can give you something, doesn’t mean it’s good.
If you’re new to EDI or API integrations, standards like X12 and EDIFACT have documentation and oftentimes major trading partners will have guides on what they’re specifically looking for when it comes to B2B messaging.
Also remember to keep humans in the loop. AI is a tool so in the world of EDI and API integration, you will still need human-reviewed designs, specs, and tests—especially when your supply chain depends on it.
Sources:
Business Insider. “Vibe Coding Is Great for Prototyping but Not Yet for Production.” (2025).
IBM. “What Is Vibe Coding?” IBM Developer, 2025.
JSON Schema. “JSON Schema Specification (2020-12).” https://json-schema.org.
OWASP Foundation. “API Security Top 10 – 2023.” https://owasp.org/API-Security
ASC X12. “X12 Transaction Sets and Implementation Guides.” Accredited Standards Committee X12, 2023.
GS1. “EDI Implementation and Partner Testing Guidance.” GS1 Global, 2022.