AI Operations
Inference
The process of running a trained AI model to generate predictions or outputs from new input data.
Inference is the process of using a trained AI model to generate predictions or outputs from new input data. While training teaches the model, inference is when the model applies what it learned. Inference latency (speed) and cost are critical considerations for production AI systems. Options include cloud APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic), self-hosted models, and edge deployment. Optimization techniques like quantization and batching reduce inference costs while maintaining quality.