LLM routing: overview, strategies, and tools

Merge's blog post highlights the importance of LLM (Large Language Model) routing strategies to manage the growing costs and ensure the efficiency of AI-backed products. The concept of LLM routing involves directing requests to the most suitable model based on factors such as task type, quality, cost, and availability, with options to configure this in-house or through third-party platforms. The post discusses various strategies like minimizing costs, reducing latency, and maximizing output quality, depending on the specific needs and priorities of a business. The Merge Gateway is introduced as a tool to streamline these processes, offering a unified API that integrates multiple LLM providers, enabling consistent interfaces, cost governance, and automatic fallback mechanisms. Alternative platforms such as OpenRouter and LiteLLM are also mentioned, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks, highlighting the importance of choosing the right platform based on control, customization, and ease of maintenance.