Cheap AI Isn't always better

The real costs of AI-native workflows

Jul 16, 2026

`Time: 3.40 Minutes`

Here’s the trap everyone’s falling into right now…

AI shows up with a price that makes the old way look insane. A button instead of a person. Pennies instead of a salary. The math screams yes.

Then you actually use it.

The thing that demoed like magic now needs setup, supervision, and constant cleanup.

It works halfway, but breaks differently each time, and needs someone who actually knows what they’re doing to fix it. The sticker price was never the real cost.

Look around, it’s everywhere.

Vibe coding that ships you a broken half-product from a prompt. AI support that’s cheaper per ticket but quietly bleeds customers. Automation that costs less per task but more in oversight and trust.

I’m not anti-AI.

Sometimes it genuinely wins. But cheaper on paper and better in practice are two completely different things, and people keep confusing them.

So count in everything, like setup, maintenance, and what actually gets delivered.

Often the “expensive” human is the bargain against the chaos current AI can bring. (I know this can change in the future)

But cheaper isn’t value. Working is.

So see the hidden cost of AI and stay curious.

Your favourite Domi.

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