Beyond the Hype: The Real Trade-Offs of Building AI-Native Products

As companies rush to embed generative AI into their products to stay competitive, this piece challenges the assumption that AI should be a prerequisite for relevance. The author reveals significant, often-unspoken trade-offs—from product design complexity to maintenance costs—and argues that AI should serve as a strategic tool to enhance core value propositions rather than a feature bolted on for market positioning.