AI Model Routing Mirrors SD-WAN's Evolution

Stripe's planned acquisition of OpenRouter has drawn attention to dynamic model routing, a technology that directs AI tasks to the optimal model based on cost, latency, privacy, and performance. Like software-defined wide-area networking before it, model routing must evolve beyond static decisions into context-aware, policy-driven systems. The challenge is especially acute at the enterprise edge, where retail stores, clinics, factories, and banks increasingly depend on AI services spanning multiple clouds and platforms. Without clear visibility, policy controls, and real-time telemetry, dynamic routing risks introducing unpredictability rather than agility.