AI for Builders

Cost & Latency Tradeoffs

Tokens aren't free, and speed matters. This series gives you the mental model for LLM economics — from how pricing works to the optimization levers that turn an expensive prototype into a shipping product.

3 parts · ~23 min total

  1. Tokens, Models & the Cost CurveWhat tokens are, how LLM pricing works, and why the cost per user action is the number that matters most.~7 min3 interactive demos
  2. Latency, Streaming & OptimizationWhy LLMs feel slow, how streaming changes everything, and the optimization playbook for shipping fast, affordable AI features.~7 min3 interactive demos
  3. Prompt Caching & BatchingThe two techniques that turn a $500/day API bill into $75. Cache the static prefix, batch the offline jobs, keep the margin.~9 min2 interactive demos