How to Create AI Application with PHP and ONNX

You might think of Python when you hear "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) or "machine learning." Python is popular for AI because of tools like TensorFlow and PyTorch. But what if you could use PHP for AI too?

PHP is famous for building websites. For years, it's been the go-to language for web developers. But AI in PHP? It sounds surprising!

The Problem with Traditional AI in PHP

Usually, if you want to use AI in a PHP website, you have to ask an outside service (an API) to do the AI work. Or, you might need to use another language like Python to handle the AI part, which makes things complicated.

This is where ONNX (Open Neural Network Exchange) comes in. Think of ONNX as a translator for AI models. It lets you train an AI model using one tool (like Python with TensorFlow) and then run that model in a completely different environment – like your PHP code!

Why is ONNX in PHP a Big Deal?

• No Need for External APIs: You can run AI directly in your PHP application. No need to call other services for AI predictions.
• Simpler Setup: Forget about complicated setups with Python backends or extra services. Just use your PHP code.
• Faster Real-Time AI: ONNX in PHP can handle AI tasks quickly, right when you need them.

This isn't just a cool idea. It's a real way to add AI to PHP websites and applications. Imagine using AI for:

• Fraud Detection in Online Stores: Stop bad transactions before they happen.
• AI Chatbots: Make your website's customer service smarter.
• Recommendation Systems: Suggest the right products to the right people.

Why Choose PHP for ONNX?

PHP might not be the first language for AI, but it's powerful for web tasks. Many systems don't want to rely on outside APIs for every AI prediction. ONNX in PHP offers a way to keep things efficient and self-contained.

We'll show you a simple example of how to run an ONNX model in PHP. You'll see how easy it can be to bring AI into your PHP projects.

PHP is a web powerhouse. Many systems need fast, efficient AI without the hassle of external connections. ONNX in PHP offers a streamlined, self-contained way to achieve this.

Simple PHP Code Example with ONNX

Let's see how easy it is to run an ONNX model in PHP. You'll need the onnxruntime-php library. You can install it using Composer:

Bash

composer require ankane/onnxruntime

Then, create a PHP file (e.g., run_onnx.php) with the following code:

PHP

<?php

require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';

use OnnxRuntime\Model;

// Load your ONNX model file
$modelPath = 'path/to/your/model.onnx'; // Replace with the actual path to your ONNX model
$model = new Model($modelPath);

// Prepare input data (example input)
$inputData = ['input_name' => [1.0, 2.0, 3.0]]; // Replace 'input_name' with your model's input name

// Run the AI model and get predictions
$predictions = $model->predict($inputData);

// Output the predictions
print_r($predictions);

?>

Before you run this code:

1. Install the ONNX Runtime PHP extension: Follow the instructions in the onnxruntime-php GitHub repository to set up the extension correctly, including downloading the shared library and updating your composer.json as mentioned in the documentation.
2. Get an ONNX model: You'll need an ONNX model file (.onnx). You can find pre-trained models online (like from the ONNX Model Zoo) or convert models from other frameworks (like Python's PyTorch or TensorFlow) to ONNX format. Make sure to replace 'path/to/your/model.onnx' with the correct path to your model file.
3. Understand your model's input: You need to know the input name and expected input data format for your ONNX model. Replace 'input_name' and the example $inputData with the correct input for your model.

Conclusion

PHP and AI might seem like an unexpected combination, but ONNX makes it a powerful reality. You can now create smarter, more interactive PHP applications by directly embedding AI. This opens up exciting new possibilities for PHP developers to build the next generation of intelligent web experiences. Explore ONNX and onnxruntime-php and start adding AI to your PHP projects today!