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"Prompting, RAG or fine-tuning? A plain-English guide"
Vendors throw these three words around, often with the price tag attached to the wrong one. Here is what prompting, RAG and fine-tuning actually are, what each costs, and why most businesses never need the expensive one.
AI basics4 min read1 September 2026by Ahmed
Sooner or later, every founder planning an AI feature meets three options: prompting, RAG and fine-tuning. Vendors throw the words around, often in the same breath, and often with a price tag attached to the wrong one. Here is what each actually is, what each costs, and which problems each one fits — in plain terms.
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