Flink Native Inference seamlessly runs AI models directly in Confluent Cloud for streamlined development
Flink search delivers a unified interface for querying vector databases, simplifying the data enrichment process
Built-in ML functions open the full potential of AI-driven analytics to non-data science specialists
BENGALURU, India, March 19, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Confluent, Inc. (NASDAQ:CFLT), the data streaming pioneer, announced new capabilities in Confluent Cloud for Apache Flink® that streamline and simplify the process of developing real-time artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Flink Native Inference cuts through complex workflows by enabling teams to run any open source AI model directly in Confluent Cloud. Flink search unifies data access across multiple vector databases, streamlining discovery and retrieval within a single interface. And new built-in machine learning (ML) functions bring AI-driven use cases, such as forecasting and anomaly detection, directly into Flink SQL, making advanced data science effortless. Together these innovations redefine how businesses can harness AI for real-time customer engagement and decision-making.
“Building real-time AI applications has been too complex for too long, requiring a maze of tools and deep expertise just to get started,” said Shaun Clowes, Chief Product Officer at Confluent. “With the latest advancements in Confluent Cloud for Apache Flink, we’re breaking down those barriers—bringing AI-powered streaming intelligence within reach of any team. What once required a patchwork of technologies can now be done seamlessly within our platform, with enterprise-level security and cost efficiencies baked in.”
The AI boom is here. According to McKinsey, 92% of companies plan to increase their AI investments over the next three years. Organizations want to seize this opportunity and capitalize on the promises of AI. However, the road to building real-time AI apps is complicated. Developers are juggling multiple tools, languages, and interfaces to incorporate ML models and pull valuable context from the many places that data lives. This fragmented workflow leads to costly inefficiencies, slowdowns in operations, and AI hallucinations that can damage reputations.
Simplify the Path to AI Success
“Confluent helps us accelerate copilot adoption for our customers, giving teams access to valuable real-time, organizational knowledge,” said Steffen Hoellinger, Co-founder and CEO at Airy. “Confluent’s data streaming platform with Flink AI Model Inference simplified our tech stack by enabling us to work directly with large language models (LLMs) and vector databases for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and schema intelligence, providing real-time context for smarter AI agents. As a result, our customers have achieved greater productivity and improved workflows across their enterprise operations.”
Story Continues