Lightning AI

What is Lightning AI

Lightning AI is a platform that allows users to develop, prototype, and scale AI projects efficiently from their browser, eliminating the need for extensive local setups. It supports extensive cloud-based functionalities such as zero environment changes, multi-node training, and effortless switching between CPU and GPU. Targeted at researchers and engineers, it helps accelerate experimentation and collaboration on AI projects.

Key Features of Lightning AI

- Zero Setup: Begin AI projects directly from your browser without any setup needed.

- Free GPU Hours: Access up to 22 free GPU hours to accelerate your project development.

- Cloud Integration: Utilize AWS credits for streamlined cloud computing resources.

- Multi-Node Training: Enable multi-node training within seconds, significantly reducing setup time.

- Prototyping Speed: Prototype models up to 6 times faster than traditional methods.

- Cloud-Based VSCode IDE: Simplifies workflow by integrating all native VS code plugins in the web browser.

- Large-Scale Sweeps: Fit thousands of models within weeks, drastically cutting down computation time.

- Local Feel on the Cloud: Provides a local development experience with the power of cloud computing.

- Quick GPU Switching: Seamlessly switch from CPU to GPU without the need for file copying or mounting.

- Collaborative Debugging: Save hours per week by allowing experts to debug and collaborate on shared experiments.

- Experimentation Efficiency: Validate hypotheses quickly and cost-effectively.

- Pre-Provisioned Environments: Manage environments effortlessly with pre-provisioned workspaces.

- Host AI Apps: Easily host and share AI apps, including Streamlit, Gradio, and React JS.

- Infinite Storage: Enjoy unlimited storage with options to upload, share files, and connect to S3 buckets.

- Massive Scalability: Train, fine-tune, and deploy models at an unprecedented scale using thousands of GPUs.

- Custom Workflows: Write and deploy custom workflows using the provided SDK without any abstractions.

- Async Jobs Support: Handle asynchronous jobs efficiently with zero environment changes.

- Advanced AI Training: Develop skills from basic AI app development to sophisticated model training and profiling through expert-written guides.

Pricing

Free Plan:

• Cost: $0/month
• Target Audience: Students, researchers, hobbyists
• Features:
  • Pay-as-you-go model
  • 15 monthly Lightning credits included (~22 GPU hours per month)
  • 1 free active Studio (additional active Studios require extra payment)
  • Access to single GPU machines (T4, L4, A10G)
  • Unlimited background execution
  • SSH and local IDE connectivity (e.g., VSCode)
  • Persistent storage up to 100GB
  • Multiplayer live collaboration
  • Usage of private and public models
  • Optimized Studios access
  • Automation through Lightning SDK
  • Community support via Discord

Pro Plan:

• Monthly: $50
• Annual: $600 (20% discount)
• Target Audience: Engineers, researchers, scientists
• Additional Features:
  • 40 monthly Lightning credits included
  • 64 and 96 core CPU machines access
  • Multi-GPU machines access (T4, L4, A10G)
  • Multi-node training capabilities (up to 4 CPU machines, up to 3 GPU machines)
  • Unlimited pro teamspaces
  • Persistent storage up to 2TB
  • Connection to public and private S3 buckets
  • Distributed data preparation (up to 4 CPU machines)
  • Machine reservation for jobs
  • AWS credits consumption

Compute Costs:

• Billed by the second with default prices for various configurations:
• Default (CPU): 4 cores, 16GB RAM (Free)
• Data prep (CPU): 32 cores, 128GB RAM ($2.94/hour)
• Data prep max (CPU): 64 cores, 256GB RAM ($4.678/hour)
• Data prep ultra (CPU): 96 cores, 384GB RAM ($6.632/hour)