In plain wordsThere are five ways to build AI memory, from dead simple to very complex. Most teams grab the fanciest one and burn months. This shows how to pick the cheapest one that actually solves the problem.
Why it mattersThis is judgment, the thing that saves a startup real time and money. I default to the simplest thing that works.
5 Levels of Retrieval
LowestnotLoudest
Pick the cheapest level that actually solves the pain. Each rung adds capability and failure surface.
Level 1
Keyword
Exact wordsWhat
Text index. Fast, deterministic, no training required.
Use it when
You know the exact term: a ticket ID, a name, a command flag.
CostCheapest