Start With Constraints, Not Capabilities
Most stack debates start with "which model is best." That's the wrong starting point. Start with your constraints: data residency requirements, existing cloud commitments, team familiarity, budget, and latency requirements.
Azure OpenAI vs AWS Bedrock vs Direct API
Azure OpenAI: Best if you have Azure credits, existing Azure infrastructure, or regulated data requirements. AWS Bedrock: Best for AWS-native stacks and multi-model access. Direct API: Best for prototyping and cost-sensitive workloads.
Vector Database Decision
pgvector: Start here if you're already using PostgreSQL. Pinecone: Move here when you need managed scaling. Qdrant: Best self-hosted option.
The Stack We Default To
For a regulated-data AI startup in 2025: Azure OpenAI (GPT-4o), pgvector on Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server, LangChain for orchestration, Next.js frontend, Railway for deployment.
Building an AI product and not sure where to start?
Book a Free Architecture Review →