How to Choose Your AI App Stack

Choosing an AI app stack in 2026 is not a one-size-fits-all decision. The right combination of model, platform, and infrastructure depends on your use case, your team, your budget, and how fast you need to ship. This guide gives you the decision framework we use when scoping AI app projects, so you can evaluate your options with criteria instead of hype. Key Takeaways Stack choice starts with the use case, not the tool: the right model, platform, and infrastructure are determined by what the AI needs to do, not by what is popular or newest. Model and platform are separate decisions: choosing a model provider does not dictate your app platform; the two are independent choices with different evaluation criteria. Low-code platforms are a legitimate option for most AI apps: Bubble, FlutterFlow, and Glide support production AI integrations and ship significantly faster than custom builds for most SMB use cases. Latency requirements change your architecture: AI features that need sub-second