Jonáš SvětlíkHow to pick a model and spend less
You do not have to pay for the smartest model for every little thing. Here is when a cheaper one is enough and how not to overpay for AI.
Smart model vs cheap model
Big models are smarter, but pricier and slower. Smaller ones are fast and cheap - and they handle most everyday tasks too.
Which one when
- A big model: complex reasoning, code, sensitive text where quality matters.
- A small model: sorting, simple answers, bulk processing.
Costs in plain language
You pay for tokens - chunks of text, both in and out. A long context (a lot of text at once) costs more. So trimming the input pays directly.
How to save
- Pick the model by how demanding the task is, not by reflex for the priciest.
- Trim and clean your inputs.
- Cache the repeated things so you do not pay for them twice.
What to watch out for
The most expensive model is not automatically the best for your case. Test a cheaper one - you will often find you cannot tell the difference, but your bill can.
The clever move is not paying for the smartest model. It is paying for the one that handles your task - and not a penny more.
Want AI deployed without overpaying?
I will design it so it does its job without eating credit for nothing - picking the right model is half the saving. Get in touch.