§01Model routing

One endpoint in. The right model out.

Every prompt is scored, then routed to the smallest model that can answer it correctly. Frontier models are reserved for the requests that actually need them.

§02Definition

What model routing means.

AI model routing is the practice of automatically choosing which language model should answer each individual request, instead of sending all traffic to one expensive default model. Podar scores each prompt for complexity, sensitivity, and required output quality, then dispatches it to the cheapest model that meets that bar, escalating to frontier models only when the task demands it.

§03The problem it solves
  • 01

    Most enterprises hard-code a single frontier model as the default for every application.

  • 02

    A large share of production traffic is classification, extraction, formatting, and short answers that a small model handles at a fraction of a cent.

  • 03

    Teams have no safe way to test a cheaper model, so nobody ever changes the default.

§04How it works

Step by step.

  1. 01

    Score

    Each prompt is rated for complexity, sensitivity, and required quality before any model is called.

  2. 02

    Match

    The scoring result is matched against your routing policy — written in plain YAML and versioned like code.

  3. 03

    Route

    The request is dispatched across a multi-gateway fabric to the cheapest supply path that satisfies the policy.

  4. 04

    Escalate

    Low-confidence or high-stakes requests climb the chain to a frontier model automatically.

  5. 05

    Measure

    Realized savings are recorded per request against the model you would otherwise have used.

§05Outcomes

What you get.

  • 40–70% lower model spend on typical enterprise traffic mixes
  • No application changes — Podar is a drop-in compatible endpoint
  • Quality Index held flat, verified by an automated regression suite
§06Questions

Model routing — frequently asked.

Does model routing reduce answer quality?
No. Routing decisions are governed by a quality bar you set, and every model swap is validated by an automated regression suite before it reaches production traffic. If a cheaper model cannot hold quality on a task class, Podar does not route that class to it.
Do we have to change our application code to use model routing?
No. Podar exposes a single drop-in compatible endpoint. Applications keep the same request format; only the base URL changes.
How much can model routing save on an enterprise AI bill?
In typical enterprise traffic mixes, 40 to 70 percent of AI spend is recoverable without quality loss. A conservative realized reduction of 30 percent on a $7M annual bill is roughly $2.1M.

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