Cogent’s network is uniquely situated to support any company’s AI endeavors. Whether it is a financial firm looking to increase their trading margins, or a technology company developing their own AI models that require transporting large volumes of data.

Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT to the public in November of 2022, the adoption of AI has grown dramatically. Companies around the world are incorporating the technology into their tech stacks to manage, optimize, and revolutionize their business practices.

There are two primary types of AI being utilized in the marketplace today, Large Language Models (LLMs) – also known as Learning Models – and Generative AI. OpenAI is a good example of how a company trains a LLM over time, and then releases mature models for end users through a generative AI platform like ChatGPT. The final version of ChatGPT that end users interact with is considered a “generative LLM version”.

Learning Models require transporting large amounts of data between compute and storage across network backbones. They require high bandwidth and low latency due to the volume of data and the need to ensure computing devices (GPUs) are “fed” data at a continuous rate for maximum efficiency. Network resiliency and diversity are typically the key requirements for learning applications. Thus, Optical Wavelengths are the ideal solution for these networks, with Layer 2 VPN solutions (VPLS or MPLS IP-VPN) also being options.

Generative AI is more end-user and application focused. As a real-time interactive experience, generative AI is typically very latency sensitive, to ensure the applications can take in the prompts or questions from end users and return the result back to the user just as quickly.

Cogent’s network is uniquely situated to support any company’s AI endeavors. Whether it is a financial firm looking to increase their trading margins, or a technology company developing their own AI models that require transporting large volumes of data.

Each product in Cogent’s suite can be utilized to support your AI endeavors. Having Optical Wavelengths in your transport stack enables you to transfer large amounts of data between two points at very high bandwidth and very low latency – perfect for training your AI models. Our DIA and IP Transit products can support and power your basic model updates and ensure that features on public facing platforms or internal applications are returning quick and effective responses. Pairing these products with a colocation option in a Cogent data center allows businesses to have a single, scalable operating model from pilot to production for company-specific AI models.

When developing an AI model or deploying Generative AI based applications, storage and scalability are key. It may be better to utilize the cloud to ensure optimal storage and scalability. Cogent has the ability to connect your company’s network via private paths to the on-ramps of AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure through VPLS, VPLS IP-VPN, Ethernet Point-to-Point, or, if necessary, via an Optical Wavelength.

From a variety of available options and configurations Cogent can design the network solution that best addresses your key priorities.

As 2026 rolls forward, IT professionals know that implementing AI tools will require augmenting their network backbone to ensure their company is getting the best results from these tools.