banatie-content/0-inbox/too-many-models-problem.md

slug	title	status	created	source
too-many-models-problem	You Don't Need 47 Image Models. You Need One That Works Consistently.	inbox	2024-12-27	research

Idea

Discovery

Source: Weekly digest 2024-12-27, Hacker News, Reddit
Evidence:

HN Quote:

"It is just very hard to make any generalizations because any single prompt will lead to so many different types of images. Every model has strengths and weaknesses depending on what you are going for." — Hacker News, December 2024

Community Pain:

• Fal.ai offers dozens of models
• Replicate has 100+ image models
• Runware positioning as "one API for all AI models"
• Developers overwhelmed by choice

Reddit Pain Point:

• Constant questions about "which model for X?"
• No consensus on best practices
• Switching costs high (prompts don't transfer between models)

Why This Matters

Strategic Rationale:

1. Counter-Positioning

   • Competitors compete on model variety
   • We compete on consistency and simplicity
   • "Less but better" positioning

2. Developer Pain Point

   • Choice paralysis is real
   • Prompt engineering doesn't transfer across models
   • Inconsistent results kill production workflows

3. Our Differentiation

   • @name references solve consistency problem
   • Curated models, not marketplace
   • Project-based organization
   • "Pick once, use forever" philosophy

Potential Angle

Anti-complexity manifesto + practical guide

Hook: "Replicate has 100+ image models. Fal.ai offers dozens. Runware promises 'all AI models in one API.' Meanwhile, you just want to generate a consistent hero image for your blog posts."

Structure:

1. The Model Explosion Problem

   • Screenshot Replicate's model marketplace
   • Show 47 variations of Stable Diffusion
   • Developer quote: "Which model do I use for photorealistic portraits?"
   • The answer: "It depends" (unhelpful)

2. Why More Models ≠ Better Results

   • Prompt engineering is model-specific
   • What works in SDXL breaks in Flux
   • Production consistency requires same model
   • Switching costs: re-engineering all prompts

3. The Hidden Cost of Choice

   • Time: Testing 10 models to find "the one"
   • Money: Burning credits on experiments
   • Maintenance: Model versions update, prompts break
   • Quote: "I spent 3 hours picking a model, then realized my prompts sucked anyway"

4. What You Actually Need

   • ONE good model for your use case
   • Consistent prompting patterns
   • Version control for working prompts
   • Project organization (context matters)

5. How Banatie Solves This

   • Curated models: We picked the best, you focus on building
   • @name references: Consistency across generations
   • Project organization: Context preserved automatically
   • Philosophy: "We're opinionated so you don't have to be"

6. Practical Guide: Pick Your Model Once

   IF photorealistic portraits → Flux Realism
   IF illustration/concept art → SDXL
   IF speed matters → Flux Schnell
   IF need control → Flux Dev
   

   Then STOP. Use that model. Build workflow around it.

7. When Model Variety Actually Helps

   • Experimentation phase (before production)
   • Specific artistic styles (Ghibli, pixel art)
   • Niche use cases (medical imaging, architecture)

   But: 80% of developers need consistency, not variety.

Call to Action:

• Try Banatie's opinionated approach
• Download our "Model Selection Worksheet"
• Join workflow-first developers

Keywords

Needs validation

Potential:

• "best AI image model for developers"
• "stable diffusion vs flux"
• "consistent AI image generation"
• "too many AI models"
• "image generation best practices"

Notes

Tone:

• Empathetic (we get the frustration)
• Opinionated (we have a thesis)
• Practical (actionable advice)
• NOT arrogant ("competitors are dumb")

Risk: Sounds like we're limiting features.

Mitigation: Frame as "opinionated defaults with flexibility underneath"

• We curate, but you CAN use any model
• Most developers need simplicity, power users get flexibility
• Better to be excellent at 3 models than mediocre at 47

Competitor Response:

• Replicate will say "but choice is good!"
• We say "choice without guidance is paralysis"
• Different philosophies for different developers

Production Notes:

• Need quotes from developers about model confusion
• Screenshot model marketplaces (Replicate, fal.ai)
• Create decision tree for model selection
• Test prompt portability across models (show it breaks)

Similar Positioning:

• 37signals (Basecamp): "Less software, more results"
• Apple: "Curated ecosystem vs Android chaos"
• Notion: "One tool vs 10 specialized tools"

We're applying same philosophy to AI image generation.