What is Fine‑Tuning?
Fine‑tuning adapts a pre‑trained model to your style or formats. Use RAG when you need factual answers from your documents; fine‑tune for tone and task patterns.
Fine‑tuning vs RAG: quick guide
| Scenario | Prefer RAG | Prefer Fine‑tuning |
|---|---|---|
| Up‑to‑date factual answers | Answers must cite and follow latest docs | Not ideal—training cadence too slow |
| Brand voice & consistent formats | Prompt templates may be enough | Great fit for tone and structure |
| Limited or sensitive data | Index private docs without training | Requires careful data prep & policy |
Data requirements
Hundreds–thousands of high‑quality examples for stable gains.
Cost model
One‑time training + inference cost; retrain when behavior drifts.
Risks
Overfitting, leakage, outdated behavior; mitigate with evals and policy.