# AI Cost Optimization

> Inference is quietly becoming your second-biggest AI line item. Let's find the waste.

**Category:** Governance & Economics
**Rate:** $150–$250/hr, scoped after a free 20-minute consult
**Provider:** r.blackman (Ryan Blackman and Noaman S'Bouria)

## Overview

LLM and inference spend has a way of growing faster than anyone can explain, because most teams default to the most capable model for every task instead of the cheapest one that works. This engagement audits where token and inference spend is actually going, then applies model routing, prompt compression, and caching to cut waste without degrading the outputs your product depends on.

## Sound familiar?

- LLM API costs have grown faster than usage would explain, and no one's audited why
- You're using a top-tier model for tasks a cheaper one could handle just as well
- There's no visibility into which features or teams are driving AI spend

## What the engagement looks like

### Cost audit

A breakdown of where token and inference spend is actually going, down to the feature or workflow.

### Optimization plan

Model routing, prompt compression, caching, and tiering strategies mapped to your specific usage.

### Ongoing cost governance

Lightweight monitoring and guardrails so costs stay visible as usage scales.

## Good fit if you're...

- Companies whose AI or LLM spend is now a real budget line item
- Engineering teams that suspect they're over-provisioned on model tier
- Finance or ops leaders who want AI spend to be explainable

## FAQ

**How much can we realistically save?**

It depends heavily on your current setup, but 30 to 60 percent reductions are common where no optimization has been done before, mainly from model tiering, caching repeated queries, and trimming oversized prompts.

**Will this hurt output quality?**

Done correctly, no. The goal is matching model capability to task difficulty, not blanket downgrading. Changes are validated against your actual outputs before they're rolled out broadly.

**Do you work with any specific model provider?**

No. The audit and optimization plan are provider-agnostic and often include comparing providers directly as part of the cost picture.

## Related services

- [AI Governance, Risk & Compliance](https://rblackman.ai/services/ai-governance-compliance.md)

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Full page: https://rblackman.ai/services/ai-cost-optimization/
Book a free 20-minute consult: https://rblackman.ai/contact/