Question 1

What is the EU AI Act and how does it affect SMEs?

Accepted Answer

The EU AI Act is the world's first comprehensive regulation on artificial intelligence, effective from August 2024. It classifies AI systems by risk level (prohibited, high-risk, limited-risk, minimal-risk) and imposes compliance requirements accordingly. Most SME AI tools fall under 'limited-risk' (transparency obligations) or 'minimal-risk' (no special requirements). We help you navigate classification and prepare for compliance audits.

Question 2

How much can I save by switching from GPT-5 to Small Language Models?

Accepted Answer

At high volume, self-hosted Small Language Models (SLMs) can reduce costs by 70-87% compared to GPT-5 or Claude APIs. For example, processing 10 million tokens monthly costs ~€100 with GPT-5 versus ~€13-30 with self-hosted Mistral models. Savings depend on usage patterns, infrastructure, and performance requirements.

Question 3

How do self-hosted AI solutions protect data privacy?

Accepted Answer

Self-hosted AI keeps your data on European servers under your control—no third-party APIs, no data leaving the EU, full GDPR compliance by design. Unlike cloud AI services (OpenAI, Anthropic), you own the infrastructure, audit trails, and access controls.

Question 4

What are Small Language Models (SLMs)?

Accepted Answer

Small Language Models are AI models with fewer parameters (7B-70B) than large models like GPT-5. Examples include Mistral 7B, Llama 3 70B, and Phi-3. They offer 80-95% of large model capabilities at 10-20x lower cost and can run on consumer hardware or affordable cloud instances.

Question 5

Can I use ChatGPT/Claude and still be GDPR compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but with limitations. Both OpenAI and Anthropic offer GDPR-compliant Business/Enterprise plans with Data Processing Agreements (DPAs), EU data residency options, and no training on your data. However, free/personal tiers do NOT guarantee GDPR compliance.

Question 6

How long does MVP development take?

Accepted Answer

Our MVP development typically takes 4-6 weeks and delivers core features, a working prototype, and user testing. We prioritize speed-to-market with production-ready code (not throwaway prototypes), so your MVP can scale into a full product without rebuilding from scratch.

Question 7

Do you work with clients outside Portugal?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! While we're based in Portugal, we serve clients across the European Union and beyond. Our bilingual team (English/Portuguese) works remotely with companies in Spain, France, Germany, and other EU countries.

Question 8

What's the difference between Mistral AI and OpenAI?

Accepted Answer

Mistral AI is a European company building open-source and commercial AI models, while OpenAI (GPT-5, ChatGPT) is a US company with closed-source models. Key differences: Mistral models can be self-hosted (full control, no API costs at scale), Mistral has EU data centers (better GDPR compliance), Mistral is cheaper (70-87% cost reduction vs. GPT-5 at high volume).

ListingForge - AI Listing Optimizer

How It Works