Together AI Taps Blockchain for Cheaper AI

Together AI and Pearl Research Labs are integrating blockchain to cut AI inference costs, offering discounted model access subsidized by cryptocurrency mining.

6 min read
Together AI and Pearl Research Labs logos side-by-side with abstract network graphics.
Together AI and Pearl Research Labs join forces to integrate blockchain for AI.· Together AI

Together AI is teaming up with Pearl Research Labs, the creators of the Pearl Network, in a strategic move to significantly reduce the cost of AI inference. This partnership aims to integrate blockchain technology, specifically Pearl's 'Proof of Useful Work' protocol, directly into AI computation.

Visual TL;DR. High AI Inference Costs tackles Together AI & Pearl. Together AI & Pearl uses Pearl's Proof of Work. Pearl's Proof of Work enables Offsetting Compute Costs. Offsetting Compute Costs leading to Cheaper AI Inference. Cheaper AI Inference via Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl. Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl offering Over 25% Discount.

Related startups

  1. High AI Inference Costs: AI computation is expensive and needs cost reduction strategies
  2. Together AI & Pearl: Partnership to integrate blockchain into AI computation
  3. Pearl's Proof of Work: Leverages GPU compute for AI to mine crypto
  4. Offsetting Compute Costs: AI workloads simultaneously mine digital assets
  5. Cheaper AI Inference: Discounted model access subsidized by crypto emissions
  6. Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl: First discounted inference endpoint launched
  7. Over 25% Discount: Significant savings on AI model access
Visual TL;DR
Visual TL;DR — startuphub.ai High AI Inference Costs tackles Together AI & Pearl. Together AI & Pearl uses Pearl's Proof of Work. Cheaper AI Inference via Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl tackles uses via High AI Inference Costs Together AI & Pearl Pearl's Proof of Work Cheaper AI Inference Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl From startuphub.ai · The publishers behind this format
Visual TL;DR — startuphub.ai High AI Inference Costs tackles Together AI & Pearl. Together AI & Pearl uses Pearl's Proof of Work. Cheaper AI Inference via Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl tackles uses via High AI InferenceCosts Together AI &Pearl Pearl's Proof ofWork Cheaper AIInference Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl From startuphub.ai · The publishers behind this format
Visual TL;DR — startuphub.ai High AI Inference Costs tackles Together AI & Pearl. Together AI & Pearl uses Pearl's Proof of Work. Cheaper AI Inference via Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl tackles uses via High AI Inference Costs AI computation is expensive and needs costreduction strategies Together AI & Pearl Partnership to integrate blockchain intoAI computation Pearl's Proof of Work Leverages GPU compute for AI to minecrypto Cheaper AI Inference Discounted model access subsidized bycrypto emissions Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl First discounted inference endpointlaunched From startuphub.ai · The publishers behind this format
Visual TL;DR — startuphub.ai High AI Inference Costs tackles Together AI & Pearl. Together AI & Pearl uses Pearl's Proof of Work. Cheaper AI Inference via Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl tackles uses via High AI InferenceCosts AI computation isexpensive and needscost reduction… Together AI &Pearl Partnership tointegrateblockchain into AI… Pearl's Proof ofWork Leverages GPUcompute for AI tomine crypto Cheaper AIInference Discounted modelaccess subsidizedby crypto emissions Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl First discountedinference endpointlaunched From startuphub.ai · The publishers behind this format
Visual TL;DR — startuphub.ai High AI Inference Costs tackles Together AI & Pearl. Together AI & Pearl uses Pearl's Proof of Work. Pearl's Proof of Work enables Offsetting Compute Costs. Offsetting Compute Costs leading to Cheaper AI Inference. Cheaper AI Inference via Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl. Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl offering Over 25% Discount tackles uses enables leading to via offering High AI Inference Costs AI computation is expensive and needs costreduction strategies Together AI & Pearl Partnership to integrate blockchain intoAI computation Pearl's Proof of Work Leverages GPU compute for AI to minecrypto Offsetting Compute Costs AI workloads simultaneously mine digitalassets Cheaper AI Inference Discounted model access subsidized bycrypto emissions Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl First discounted inference endpointlaunched Over 25% Discount Significant savings on AI model access From startuphub.ai · The publishers behind this format
Visual TL;DR — startuphub.ai High AI Inference Costs tackles Together AI & Pearl. Together AI & Pearl uses Pearl's Proof of Work. Pearl's Proof of Work enables Offsetting Compute Costs. Offsetting Compute Costs leading to Cheaper AI Inference. Cheaper AI Inference via Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl. Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl offering Over 25% Discount tackles uses enables leading to via offering High AI InferenceCosts AI computation isexpensive and needscost reduction… Together AI &Pearl Partnership tointegrateblockchain into AI… Pearl's Proof ofWork Leverages GPUcompute for AI tomine crypto OffsettingCompute Costs AI workloadssimultaneously minedigital assets Cheaper AIInference Discounted modelaccess subsidizedby crypto emissions Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl First discountedinference endpointlaunched Over 25% Discount Significant savingson AI model access From startuphub.ai · The publishers behind this format

The core innovation lies in Pearl's ability to generate its native cryptocurrency, ¶PRL coin, by leveraging the computational power used for AI training and inference. This means every GPU cycle dedicated to AI workloads simultaneously contributes to securing the blockchain and mining new digital assets, effectively offsetting compute costs without additional expense.

As a first product of this collaboration, Together AI is launching a discounted inference endpoint for the instruction-tuned Gemma-4-31B-it-pearl model. This endpoint offers over a 25% discount, with the savings underwritten by the future value of crypto emissions generated through the Pearl Network. Together AI plans to expand this portfolio, potentially allowing customers to directly benefit from these emissions.

Pearl's breakthrough promises to fundamentally alter the AI model inference economics. By increasing the economic throughput of GPUs and lowering the price-per-token for large language models, it addresses a critical bottleneck in AI deployment. This approach offers a novel solution for AI inference cost optimization.

Omri Weinstein, Co-founder and CEO of Pearl Research Labs, stated that the partnership delivers the first inference endpoint discounted due to parallel coin generation. This integration marks a significant step towards making AI more accessible and widely distributed, aligning with Together AI's core mission. The details of this partnership were first announced on Together AI.

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