Comparison · AI strategy

Custom AI agent or generic ChatGPT

A ChatGPT subscription for the team, or an agent built on your processes and data. What your company actually needs.

Daniel Levis· Published 4 August 2026

In brief

For most SMEs the answer is both, at different stages. Generic ChatGPT is perfect for letting the team try AI right away, with minimal spend and zero setup. A custom agent pays off when a repeatable process (CV screening, reconciliations, ticket triage) needs to run on your own data, reliably and integrated. Rule of thumb: ChatGPT to assist people, a custom agent to execute a process.

Option A

Custom AI agent (proprietary data)

An agent built on your specific process, connected to your data and systems, that executes a repeatable task with an audit trail and your own rules.

Pros

  • +Works on your data and systems (CRM, ERP, PDFs), not generic knowledge
  • +Executes the process autonomously, not just suggests text
  • +Serious governance: audit log, no LLM training on your data, AI Act alignment
  • +Measurable results against an agreed target (e.g. 5h/recruiter/week saved)

Cons

  • −Requires an upfront investment (Assessment ~2,000 euro, Sprint 10-50k)
  • −Only makes sense on a repeatable, well-defined process, not everything
  • −You need an internal owner to follow the project and the data
  • −It has to be maintained and updated over time

Best for

  • High-volume repeatable processes (recruitment, finance, customer support)
  • Companies that must work on proprietary data with compliance rules
  • Those who want a measurable result, not just individual productivity

Option B

Generic ChatGPT for the team

ChatGPT (or similar) subscriptions the team uses as an assistant to write, summarize, brainstorm and research.

Pros

  • +Low cost and instant activation, no project to kick off
  • +Great for getting the whole team familiar with AI immediately
  • +Flexible: writing, summaries, research, first drafts
  • +No commitment: scale the number of licenses up or down

Cons

  • −Doesn't know your data or processes: generic answers
  • −Risk of sensitive data pasted into an ungoverned tool
  • −It executes nothing: stays an assistant, depends on the person using it
  • −Quality and usage vary widely per person, hard to measure

Best for

  • Teams that want to try AI with minimal spend and risk
  • Variable, creative work (content, research, drafts)
  • The early stage, before knowing which processes deserve an agent
Criterion Custom AI agent (proprietary data) Generic ChatGPT for the team
What it does Executes a process on your data Assists a person with generic text
Knows your data Yes, integrated with your systems No, general knowledge
Cost Assessment ~2,000 euro + Sprint 10-50k A few tens of euro/user per month
Time to activate First delivery in 4 weeks Immediate
Governance & compliance Audit log, no training on your data, AI Act Depends on plan, risk of pasted data
Measurable result Against an agreed target Hard, depends on usage

The verdict

It's not either/or. Generic ChatGPT is the fastest, cheapest way to get the team using AI and to see where it adds value: keep it. But when a repeatable process needs to run on your data reliably and measurably, ChatGPT stays an assistant that depends on the person: that's where a custom agent belongs. The right question is 'do I want to assist people or execute a process?'. Many SMEs do both: ChatGPT spread for daily productivity, a custom agent built on the core process that weighs more.

FAQ

What people usually ask us.

Isn't ChatGPT enough if I give it access to my documents?
It helps, but it stays an assistant: it answers whoever queries it, it doesn't execute an end-to-end process on your systems. A custom agent connects to CRM, ERP and PDFs, applies your rules and produces a repeatable result with an audit trail. They are two different tools, not two versions of the same one.
How much does an agent cost compared to ChatGPT subscriptions?
ChatGPT costs a few tens of euro per user per month. A custom agent starts with an Assessment of about 2,000 euro (refunded if you proceed) and a Sprint between 10,000 and 50,000 euro. It's not a like-for-like comparison: you pay more because the agent executes a process and returns measurable hours. To see if it's worth it for your case, let's talk.
What about sensitive data? Is generic ChatGPT a risk?
The biggest risk is people pasting sensitive data into an ungoverned tool. With a Soraia custom agent your data stays yours: no LLM training on client data, immutable audit log, art. 28 DPA and AI Act alignment. European infrastructure or on-premise where required.
Which one should I start with?
Almost always: first ChatGPT spread across the team to build confidence, then an AI Adoption path to see where AI adds value, and finally a custom agent on the process that proved repeatable and high-volume. See also the guide to AI agents in companies.
How long does a custom agent take to go live?
A first working version is usually live in 4 weeks, followed by 30 days of hypercare. The pay only if you're satisfied guarantee applies: if the agreed target isn't met, we keep working until it is or refund the sprint.

Not sure which one fits your case?

20 minutes with the CEO to work out the right choice for your processes. No pitch, no obligation.

Daniel Levis

Daniel Levis

Co-Founder & CEO

20 min with Daniel
20 min with Daniel