AI Model Routing Explained

Not every AI request needs the most powerful model. Model routing automatically matches each task to the best model for the job — saving you money while maintaining quality where it matters.

What Is Model Routing?

Model routing is a proxy layer that sits between your application and AI providers. Instead of sending every request to the same model, it analyzes the task and picks the optimal model based on:

  • •Complexity — Simple file reads don't need a reasoning model
  • •Cost — Haiku is 60x cheaper than Opus per token
  • •Latency — Smaller models respond 3-5x faster
  • •Quality requirements — Architecture decisions need the best model

How RelayPlane Routes Requests

1. Request Analysis

The Relay Network examines the prompt, system message, and tool calls to classify task complexity (simple, moderate, complex).

2. Model Selection

Based on complexity score, it picks the cheapest model that meets the quality threshold. File reads → Haiku. Code generation → Sonnet. Architecture → Opus.

3. Transparent Proxy

The request is forwarded to the chosen model. Your application sees a standard OpenAI-compatible response. No code changes needed.

Try It in 60 Seconds

npm install -g @relayplane/proxy
relayplane init
relayplane start
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:4100
# That's it. OpenClaw now routes through RelayPlane.

Start Routing Smarter

Free tier. No credit card. Works with OpenClaw, Cursor, and any OpenAI-compatible client.

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