Google Generative AI Leader: Build or Buy for Generative AI?

“Build or buy” is often framed as a technology argument, but the real decision is about where the organization wants to own differentiation, risk, and operating responsibility. A packaged generative-AI product can deliver value quickly because the vendor owns much of the model integration, user experience, and service operation.

A custom application can fit a proprietary workflow more closely, combine private data with business logic, and give the organization more control over evaluation and release. Most organizations will use several of these patterns at once.