I need to clear something up about business AI solutions. A lot of companies claim they have their own AI models. Most don’t. They’re running ChatGPT API behind a custom interface with maybe some extra data thrown in.
This isn’t necessarily bad. Having employees use AI through official channels helps businesses track usage patterns and identify valuable applications. But you should know what you’re actually getting.
Your company probably didn’t train their own language model from scratch. They shouldn’t – it would waste resources when companies like OpenAI and Anthropic spend billions developing better models.
That said, not all custom AI business solutions are simple ChatGPT wrappers. I build tools that combine multiple existing AI models in ways that deliver specific business results. It’s like Japanese wood joinery – taking proven pieces and configuring them into sturdy new structures.
Here’s a real example: I created a logo generator for a client who wanted granular control over brand archetypes. Rather than just wrapping an existing tool, I built a custom interface with slider controls that GPT-4o interprets into optimal prompts. It generates variations using FLUX 1.1 Pro and includes editing capabilities.
All the core components existed already – the innovation was in combining and configuring them to create a focused solution for this specific business need. The result is more valuable than what you’d get from a generic AI tool.
The key is understanding how to select and integrate the right models and capabilities for each use case. You don’t need to reinvent AI – you need to apply it intelligently to solve real business problems.
If you’re evaluating AI solutions for your company, ask detailed questions about what models and capabilities they’re actually providing. There’s nothing wrong with using existing AI tools effectively, but you should know what you’re paying for.
