Open-Source vs Closed-Source Models

Summary

Closed models (GPT, Claude) are accessed via API only; open-weight models (Llama, Mistral) can be downloaded, fine-tuned and self-hosted — a decision with major cost, control and privacy implications.

• 1List the trade-offs: cost, control, privacy, latency, quality for each approach.
• 2Try running a small open-weight model locally (e.g. via Ollama).
• 3Learn when self-hosting actually makes financial sense vs. when it doesn't.