Why Model Selection Decisions Matter: The Hidden Business Impact of Choosing the Wrong LLM
In 2026, large language models (LLMs) have become essential infrastructure for modern products. Whether building search, customer support, analytics dashboards, or coding copilots, models like GPT-5.2, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3, Llama 4, and Mistral Large 3 power the features users rely on daily. This rapid shift has transformed technology decision-making, making LLM selection a critical factor influencing business operations and technology strategy.
The rapid pace of AI development has led to a proliferation of LLMs, with many companies developing their own models. Selecting the right LLM is now as important as choosing databases or cloud providers, affecting cost, reliability, speed, and user trust. Yet many teams default to popular models without aligning choices to business goals, leading to hidden costs and operational risks.