Transforming Backend Engineering: Introducing Convex, an API for Generative AI Apps

As we accidentally built an AI platform, replacing traditional backend engineering with generative AI, our mission is to empower developers to focus on their products, not tedious infrastructure setup.

1. The speaker had a talk titled "Deterministic Workflow," but wants to rename it to "We Accidentally Made an AI Platform - What Now?"
2. The company, Convex, aims to replace traditional backend engineering with generative AI through a high-level API with a functional interface that feels native to the application.
3. They took inspiration from React and the idea of functional reactive data flow in modern applications.
4. In React, State variables can be created with setters, and updating them automatically updates all dependent places.
5. The server doesn't play by the same rules as React; it requires manual cache invalidation and event-driven push mechanisms.
6. Convex fixes this by introducing queries and mutations, which track data flow and dependencies through the backend.
7. Queries are universally subscribable entities that applications can get updates from as soon as they're available.
8. Some reacting entities in Convex are server-side actions, not just application-side.
9. An example use case is a note-taking app with automatic speech recognition and related note suggestions.
10. Apps built on Convex can have concurrent chains of tasks that flow into the application as results become available.
11. Post ChatGPT boom, 90% of projects on Convex are generative AI or AI startups.
12. Developers wanted vector indexing, which was added to Convex last year and is now widely used.
13. Convex recently started a Convex for Startups program with discounts and exclusive access to forums and events for engaged and excited customers.
14. The first batch of the Convex for Startups program included many generative AI companies.
15. Convex will soon release high-level components that encapsulate whole state machines, making it easy to incorporate sophisticated workflows into applications.
16. Convex is suitable for shipping products quickly and with confidence in the generative AI space.
17. The speaker invites anyone building something cool in the generative AI field to check out Convex at convexdodev.
18. Convex aims to replace tedious backend engineering tasks like gluing things together, configuring systems, and mapping data formats.
19. Teams often spend half their time on these non-product related tasks.
20. The Convex platform allows developers to focus more on product development and user experience instead of infrastructure concerns.
21. Generative AI is essential for replacing traditional backend engineering tasks.
22. The reactive paradigm in Convex extends into the back end, ensuring that all dependent parts are updated when data changes.
23. This reactive Paradigm makes it easier to manage data flow and dependencies between various application components.
24. By providing a high-level API with functional interfaces, Convex simplifies backend engineering and encourages the use of modern generative AI techniques in application development.

Source: AI Engineer via YouTube

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