Not all “AI-powered” products are built the same. Many tools today are thin wrappers around large language models, while others are purpose-built systems designed with domain knowledge, structured data, and real-world constraints in mind. This talk breaks down the technical and practical differences between AI wrappers and purpose-built AI systems, exploring what scales, what fails, and why architecture matters. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how modern AI systems actually work and how to tell hype from durable technology.