I've been noticing a trend with early-stage startups lately.
Instead of investing in a fully custom website from day one, many are launching with an AI-generated version first.
And honestly...
I don't think that's necessarily a bad idea.
If your goal is to validate an idea, collect feedback, and see whether the market actually wants what you're building, it can be a smart way to move faster without burning your budget.
The problem usually starts later.
I've seen founders spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars trying to force AI tools to produce something they were never meant to do.
Iteration after iteration. Credits. Subscriptions. More edits.
At some point, the "cheap" option isn't so cheap anymore.
The mistake isn't using AI.
The mistake is using the right tool at the wrong stage.
Sometimes an AI-generated website is exactly what you need.
Sometimes investing in a custom website will save you far more time and money in the long run.
The hard part is knowing when to make that transition.
That's why, before spending your budget either way, I'd recommend talking to someone who's been through both approaches.
The right decision depends much more on your stage than the tool itself.
