Building an AI API With Supabase
AI applications often have one important security requirement: API keys must stay private. Putting an AI provider key directly into frontend JavaScript exposes it to users. A better architecture is:
Frontend → Edge Function → AI Provider
Step 1: User Sends a Request
The frontend sends a message or structured request to your Edge Function.
Step 2: Function Validates the User
The backend checks authentication and validates the request.
Step 3: Function Calls the AI API
The secret provider key stays on the server. The function sends the request to the AI service and receives the response.
Step 4: Return the Result
The function sends the AI response back to the application.
Store Usage Data
You can also store information such as: User ID Request time Model Token usage Request status This makes usage tracking easier.
Add Limits
For a public AI application, consider rate limits or usage limits. Otherwise, one user could consume a large amount of your AI budget. Hostwares currently includes Supabase Edge Functions in its self-hosted stack.
The result is a cleaner architecture where the browser handles the interface while sensitive AI communication stays on the backend.