Which AI to choose in 2026?
The B2B AI market polarized in 2025-2026 between generic AI (ChatGPT custom, Tidio + GPT, Intercom Fin) and vertical AI (Orkelia, a few specialized competitors). This guide helps you choose based on your sector, your budget and your regulatory constraints.
1. The two main AI families in 2026.
Generic AI (chatbot+LLM)
Typical tools: Tidio + GPT, Intercom Fin, Crisp + AI, ChatGPT custom GPT, Drift.
Principle: a well-promptable LLM answers everything, across all sectors.
- Fast self-serve setup (1-3h)
- Visible pricing (€29-99/user/month)
- Versatile (FAQ, support, qualification)
- Hallucinations on regulated professional topics
- No native profession-specific integrations
- 60% retention at 12 months in B2B
Vertical AI (Orkelia & co)
Typical tools: Orkelia (FR), Hippocratic AI (US health), Forethought (US support).
Principle: a complete system built around a specific sector (health, restaurants, transport, etc.).
- Built-in professional vocabulary + calibrated escalations
- Native profession-specific integrations (Doctolib, Combo, etc.)
- 85%+ retention at 12 months
- Native GDPR / AI Act compliance
- Longer setup (7-14 days)
- Higher headline pricing (€297-997/month)
- Limited to the targeted sector
2. 12 operational selection criteria.
| Criterion | Generic AI | Vertical AI |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | 1-3h | 7-14 days |
| Self-serve possible | Yes | No (managed) |
| Precise professional vocabulary | Weak | Native |
| Native profession-specific integrations | Generic (Zapier) | Direct APIs (Doctolib, Combo) |
| Hallucinations on regulated professions | High | Safeguards |
| Native GDPR | Variable | Native |
| AI Act high-risk compliance (health) | No | Yes |
| Headline cost /month (1 user) | €29-99 | €297-997 |
| Real cost /year (with founder time) | €20-50K | €3.5-12K |
| Observed 12-month B2B retention | ~40% | ~85%+ |
| Built-in human escalation | No | Yes |
| Direct founder support | No | Pro+ plan |
3. Decision tree by sector.
Health (doctor, dentist, clinic, physiotherapist)
B2B outbound (SaaS, agency, consulting)
Restaurants (bistro, fine dining, catering, pizzeria)
Transport (ride-hailing, fleet, logistics, ambulance)
Trading / Individual investing
Atypical professions (lawyer, real estate, plumbing, coach, architect)
Basic FAQ / customer support (generalist e-commerce)
4. The headline cost trap.
The main mistake in 2026: comparing Lemlist's €59/month to Orkelia Commercial's €497/month and concluding "Lemlist 8× cheaper". Incomplete calculation.
Lemlist requires 30-45h/month of operational work (deliverability, templates, sourcing, A/B testing, monitoring). At €100/h of founder time, that's €36-54K/year captured on tasks that don't move your business forward. Orkelia Commercial is all-inclusive at €6K/year.
See the full white paper for the detailed calculation across 7 levers.
5. The professional hallucinations trap.
In a regulated sector (health, finance, legal), a hallucination = a real risk. A generic ChatGPT agent that invents a dosage, an implant price, or a legal procedure exposes you to complaints, fines, accidents.
Vertical AIs (Orkelia included) block these hallucinations via:
- Whitelisted tool-use (max 9 tools per workspace)
- Pre-LLM anonymization of sensitive data
- Post-generation check (the agent never proposes a price that isn't in the database)
- Automatic escalation on critical signals
Full details in the Orkelia AI policy.
Not sure of the right choice?
30 min on video call with the founder to qualify your case and steer you toward the right tool (sometimes it's Orkelia, sometimes not, we'll tell you honestly).
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