Inference • Last Updated 4/25/2024

Build next-gen applications on the Telnyx AI Platform

Telnyx AI's journey: How we built a platform of composable building blocks designed for easy app development.

Emily Bowen

By Emily Bowen


Seeing the potential, we decided to take things into our own hands. We knew we could make AI more user-friendly and accessible for everyone—not just for us. That's how Telnyx Inference came to be. We went from using many AI tools to building a platform that could help others get started with AI without all the jumping around we had to do.

In a nutshell, the start of the Telnyx AI Platform was all about making AI simpler and more accessible based on our own needs and experiences. We wanted to share the power of AI with more people in a way that was easy to use and actually useful for their work.

Build vs. buy: Why we built our own AI tools

When it came to adding AI into our toolbox, we had a big decision: Do we use what's already out there, or do we make our own? Here’s why we decided to build our own:

Speed and control

We wanted things done with speed and exactly as we needed them. Building our own tools allowed us to move quickly and tweak things easily to better serve our use cases..

Cost savings

We already had the hardware—like GPUs—to run AI models. So, we figured, why pay someone else when we can use our own gear (and pass the savings on to our customers)?

Flexibility

We wanted to be able to choose from a wide range of open-source AI models—not be restricted to OpenAI's offerings—so we could adapt our tools as needed.

Data security

Ensuring the security of our proprietary data was paramount. Building our own tools meant we could closely monitor and control access to our data, mitigating risks of leaks or unauthorized use.

In short, we built our own AI tools because they gave us the freedom to do things our way faster and more cost-effectively. We were able to take control and ensure we could use AI to its full potential without any unnecessary constraints.

Building blocks for a complete AI platform

When we set out to build the Telnyx AI Platform, our goal was clear: to offer a comprehensive yet simple toolbox, so anyone could start building with AI—no matter their level of expertise. The foundation of our platform is what we call the building blocks of AI. These are the essentials you need to turn the concept of AI into real, actionable technology for your business.

Ultimately, we wanted to move beyond the hype and deliver a comprehensive platform that provides practical value from day one. To achieve this goal, we combined cloud storage, our Embeddings API, a library of open-source models, and scalable inference capabilities into one seamless ecosystem.

These building blocks represent our commitment to making AI accessible, customizable, and genuinely useful for businesses. Whether you're looking to enhance your existing systems with AI or starting from scratch, the Telnyx AI platform is designed to grow with you, providing the flexibility and power you need to make the most of AI in your business.

Let’s take a closer look at the four products that make up our AI platform:

Product 1: Cloud Storage

Telnyx Cloud Storage is designed to be the first step in your AI journey. What sets it apart is the seamless experience it offers, thanks to an intuitive UI and S3-compatible APIs. This creates an intuitive user experience where uploading files and preparing your data for AI is as easy as clicking a button.

Once you choose to store your data with us, you're not just parking it in a digital vault. Our platform allows you to directly upload files and immediately start turning this data into something more valuable: embeddings. This process—essential for AI tasks—is made incredibly simple on our platform. With our user-friendly interface, creating these embeddings from your stored data doesn’t require complex setups or deep technical know-how. And that’s by design.

Our storage solution is built on a foundation that emphasizes ease of use and accessibility. It's engineered to ensure that, whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting with AI, you can get your data AI-ready without hassle. The co-location of our robust Cloud Storage infrastructure and GPU network means you’re not waiting around for these tasks to complete. This close-knit integration reduces latency dramatically, ensuring your AI operations run smoothly and swiftly.

Telnyx Cloud Storage is your gateway to the world of AI, offering an intuitive platform where securing your data and making it ready for AI applications is straightforward and efficient. It’s all about removing barriers to AI adoption, enabling you to leverage your data to its fullest potential with minimal effort and maximum ease.

Product 2: Embeddings

Embedding your data means taking a bunch of text and changing it into a format that AI models can quickly understand and use. That's exactly what we do, preparing your data for serious AI action.

When you store data with us, it's not just sitting there collecting digital dust. Our Embeddings API primes your data for whatever AI tasks you've got in mind. It's like prepping ingredients before you cook. Everything goes smoother and faster when you're ready to start.

Integrating this service with Cloud Storage is a no-brainer. Your data gets the VIP treatment, shifting seamlessly into a format perfect for AI processing. No more messing around trying to get your data in shape for AI; we handle the heavy lifting.

Building a vector database with us means you're setting up a super-fast, super-smart system for retrieving and using your data. And because we're all about scaling, it doesn't matter how much data you have. Our setup is ready to handle it, ensuring your AI projects run without a hitch.

Our platform is built for everyone, not just the tech wizards. Whether you're experimenting in our portal or creating big things via our API, it's all designed to be straightforward. And because we want you to be able to embed more for less cost, our service is up to 50% more affordable than competitors.

In short, with Telnyx Embeddings API, you're turning your data into AI gold without the hassle or high costs. We make your AI journey smoother and more affordable, so you can focus on the cool stuff—like seeing what your data can really do.

Product 3: Model Library

The ability to swiftly switch between models is crucial for customers building high-performance AI systems. Staying at the forefront of AI technology means adapting and evolving your tools as the landscape changes. That’s exactly what our LLM Library enables. It’s built for those who need to quickly chop and change AI models to maintain their competitive market edge.

We've simplified access to a wide range of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) models. This means you get the freedom to experiment, innovate, and find the perfect fit for your specific needs without the usual barriers. Whether you're exploring new possibilities or optimizing existing processes, our library is designed to support your needs.

With a wide range of models readily available on the Telnyx AI Platform, accessible through our user-friendly Mission Control Portal or via API, the power of choice is truly in your hands. This extensive selection ensures that whatever your project demands, you have the resources at your fingertips to build a highly performant AI system tailored to your unique requirements.

This focus on flexibility, performance, and easy access to a broad spectrum of models underscores our commitment to keeping our customers at the bleeding edge of AI technology. Telnyx makes it straightforward for you to leverage AI's vast potential, ensuring that your systems are prepared for the rapid evolution of AI capabilities.

Product 4: Inference

Inference is the step where pre-processed data is quickly and effectively applied in real-world scenarios. After the Telnyx Embeddings API prepares your data, Telnyx Inference uses that data to generate insights and make predictions.

Your AI-ready data is fed into your chosen AI model. From there, you start receiving real-time insights and predictions. Our dedicated GPUs play a crucial role here, ensuring this process is both fast and reliable and providing the computational power necessary to deliver results swiftly.

The Inference service at Telnyx stands out for several reasons. First, the processing speed is unmatched, thanks to our dedicated infrastructure, including Telnyx-owned GPUs, which allow for immediate insights and keep your operations moving quickly. It's also incredibly user-friendly. Our platform is easy to navigate. And with OpenAI-compatible APIs, getting started or making the switch to Telnyx Inference is smooth, even for those already using open-source models.

Another significant advantage is the cost savings. Telnyx Inference is up to 90% cheaper than using OpenAI, making powerful AI tools accessible without a big investment. Plus, our infrastructure is exclusively allocated for inference tasks, which means consistent performance without any delays or competition for resources.

In essence, Telnyx Inference provides a straightforward, efficient route from data to actionable insights. Designed with businesses in mind, it helps you make fast, informed decisions based on your data. This final building block makes transitioning to AI simpler, more affordable, and without compromising on speed or performance.

What sets Telnyx apart from other AI platforms

Our journey into creating the Telnyx AI Platform—composed of our Cloud Storage, Embeddings API, LLM Library, and Inference products—has been all about breaking down the barriers to AI, making it not just more accessible but also more practical for businesses of all sizes. We believe that the true value of AI doesn't come from how complex the technology is but from how well it can be applied to improve everyday processes, save time, and uncover new insights.

The beauty of AI is in its potential to transform the way we work, making operations smoother and more efficient. But for that transformation to happen, companies shouldn't need to hire an army of specialized AI or ML engineers. That's why we've built Telnyx AI: to serve as an all-in-one platform—with limitless potential—where you can leverage the power of AI without the complexity or the need for specialized expertise.

At Telnyx, our journey into AI was also about helping businesses connect with their data to unlock valuable insights that were sitting in storage buckets. What really sets us apart isn’t just one thing—it’s a combination of our extensive knowledge, the practical nature of our tools, and our approach to data and customization.

We wanted to focus on creating tools that people can effectively use. We saw a gap where AI was either too complex or too niche, and we aimed to bridge that by developing a platform where the power of AI wasn’t locked behind complex interfaces or limited to those with technical expertise. We crafted a suite of tools designed to change your data into valuable insights and actions simply and effectively.

Lastly, we believe in giving businesses the freedom to use AI to best suit their needs. Unlike many platforms that might constrain you to certain models or frameworks, Telnyx champions flexibility. We provide the building blocks for AI integration, allowing you to use this technology in the most beneficial way for your business without being limited by unnecessary restrictions or tied to a specific vendor.

Telnyx stands out because we bring together networking know-how, practical tools, and an open approach to how businesses can use AI. Our aim is to make AI not just another complex technology stack but a genuinely accessible and valuable tool for businesses of all sizes. With the Telnyx AI Platform, you get to use your data your way, benefiting from our networking expertise and a suite of tools designed for real-world applications. Whether it's enhancing customer support, streamlining operations, or uncovering new opportunities, our platform is here to make AI work for you, not the other way around.

Start building today in the Portal or with OpenAI-compatible APIs.


Our journey to creating the Telnyx AI Platform started pretty simply: We were using a bunch of different apps and tools internally, trying to figure out how to make the most of AI. Jumping from one platform to another was a hassle. But we quickly saw how powerful AI could be for making our work easier, especially for things like customer support and streamlining our internal processes.

“When we first started using AI we built some great projects, but one thing became very clear. 𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹. Every tool and application was highly dependent on OpenAI—availability, latency, features—and most importantly, cost.”

– David Casem, Telnyx CEO.

Discover the story of Telnyx’s new AI Platform: From navigating a maze of external tools to creating simple, composable building blocks that bring AI within everyone's reach. Here's what you’ll learn:

  • Origin story: How necessity sparked our journey from AI users to innovators.
  • Why we built it: Speed, savings, and the freedom to craft our tools shaped our decisions.
  • What makes us different: Blending networking expertise with easy-to-use tools.
  • Inside the toolbox: A quick dive into the building blocks of our AI platform—Cloud Storage, Embeddings API, Model Library, and Inference—designed for ease and efficiency.

One platform, limitless potential. Keep reading to find out more about the Telnyx AI Platform.

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