AI wrapper
A startup or product that wraps an LLM API with a nicer UX, domain-specific features, or integrations, but doesn't train its own model.
Think of it like
A restaurant that orders ingredients from a supplier and adds skill, plating, and atmosphere.
Example
Jasper wraps GPT to write marketing copy. Typeform wraps GPT to auto-suggest form questions. They're not training models; they're tuning prompts and building UI.
How it actually works
Wrapper companies have lower moats than model builders—if they can be out-competed by better models or better integrations, they can disappear. But they own relationships and workflows. Debate: is a wrapper valuable? Some say yes (brand, UX, integration), others say it's a race to zero.
For product teams
Low barrier to entry but high customer acquisition cost; margins erode if the underlying model improves.
For engineers
Thin application layer; heavy dependence on upstream model's quality and stability.
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