I've said something similar many times...the usage you give an API gives hints on what you're solving. A trusted middleman is really the only solution here...
@databricks allows one to consume a model in a safer way, which is what we do at
@unconvAI. But still, farming out your intelligence will have many implications for control and ownership of IP. A world where intelligence is cheap but value is created by many is preferable IMO to a world where control of intelligence and value is the hands of a few players.