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Model choice is a per-task decision, not a company-wide one. How we keep clients flexible.
Cheap, fast models for classification and extraction; frontier models for reasoning and drafting; open-source models where data must never leave your VPC.
A thin routing layer with shared prompts, tools, and evals means switching a task from one provider to another is a config change, not a rewrite.
Pricing and quality shift every few months. We re-run the eval suite against current models and move workloads when the numbers justify it.
Boards and founders are asking the same question in 2026: where does AI genuinely move the numbers, and how do we get there without wasted pilots? This article lays out the decision framework we use with clients — from opportunity mapping to vendor selection to budgeting — grounded in what has actually worked.
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Off-the-shelf AI SaaS | Generic tasks (meeting notes, email drafting) | Data leaving your boundary; no differentiation |
| Custom AI on frontier APIs | Business-specific workflows and product features | Requires evaluation and cost governance |
| Self-hosted open models | Strict data residency, very high volume | Infrastructure and MLOps overhead |
| Hybrid routing | Most production systems | Needs a clean abstraction layer |
We are an AI-first development company that designs, builds, and operates AI agents, LLM-powered applications, and AI-native web and Flutter mobile products. Every engagement starts with a free discovery call where we map your process, assess your data, and give you a fixed-scope plan with a timeline and estimate — including projected running costs. From there we ship weekly, measure against an evaluation set, and support your product after launch.
Frequently asked questions
Every engagement is custom-priced based on scope and data readiness. A well-scoped pilot typically runs 6–8 weeks; the target outcome should be several multiples of the investment.
No. Models will keep improving, but the organisational learning — data readiness, evaluation, governance — takes time and compounds.
Partner to ship the first systems and learn what you need; hire to own once patterns are established.
FreshCodes is a new-age AI development company building AI agents, LLM-powered applications, and AI-native web and Flutter mobile products. Talk to us about your project.
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