In May 2025, Builder.ai — a company claiming to build apps automatically using artificial intelligence — became the focus of controversy. Internal reports and whistleblower accounts revealed that much of the so-called “AI” was actually manual labor outsourced to offshore teams. A case of marketing disguised as technology that sparked headlines… and confusion.

❌ When saying “AI” isn’t enough

Builder.ai marketed itself as a no-code, AI-driven app builder. In reality, most projects were handled manually behind the scenes, with limited automation. What they called "AI" was, in many cases, just human work with a UI wrapper.

This isn’t a failure of artificial intelligence — it’s a misuse of the term for commercial purposes.

🧠 What makes real AI different?

Unlike Builder.ai’s claims, true AI involves:

• Models trained on large datasets,
• Autonomous pattern recognition and generalization,
• Explainable outputs and measurable performance,
• Scalable deployment without constant human input.

We see this in systems like GPT-4, GitHub Copilot, and AI-powered computer vision in healthcare or retail.

🔎 How to spot “fake AI”

The scandal is a reminder that not everything labeled “AI” actually is. Watch out for red flags:

• ❗ No technical papers, datasets, or benchmarks,
• ❗ No actual AI or ML engineers on the team,
• ❗ “Magical” claims that can’t be audited or explained,
• ❗ Manual processes disguised as automation.

🚀 The upside: more maturity, more scrutiny

While the Builder.ai case is problematic, it also marks a turning point: a push for transparency, ethics, and verifiable impact in AI. Hype fades, but trustworthy tech endures.

📈 Conclusion

The Builder.ai scandal doesn’t undermine AI. It undermines those who abuse the label. Responsible AI — the kind we advocate at Joinble — is transparent, measurable, and transformative.

In moments like this, real AI stands out even more. And that’s a good thing.