Building & Product

How do I test whether my AI feature actually works before launch (evals, in plain terms)?

An eval is just a repeatable test suite for your AI feature: 30-100 real example inputs, the output you expect, and a way to score each run. Start by reading your model's actual outputs and labelling errors by hand (error analysis); patterns you find become automated checks, either simple code assertions or an LLM grading another LLM. Teams that skip this iterate blind; teams that build even a scrappy eval loop ship better AI faster than competitors.

Go deeper

18 resources.

More in AI in Your Product

Should my startup add AI features, and which ones actually matter to users? 20 → How do founders ship their first AI feature (APIs, wrappers, RAG in plain terms)? 19 → How much does it cost to run AI features, and how do I keep costs sane? 19 → Which AI model should I build on (GPT, Claude, Gemini, open-source), and how do I avoid locking myself in? 17 → How do I stop my AI feature from making things up in front of customers? 17 → Prompt engineering, RAG, or fine-tuning: which one does my product actually need? 18 → How do I design AI features people trust (chat vs buttons, streaming, showing the work)? 18 → What is my moat if I'm building on someone else's model? 19 → Should I put an AI agent in my product, or is a simple workflow enough? 18 → Is it safe to send customer data to AI APIs, and what about privacy laws like India's DPDP Act? 18 → How should I price AI features: per seat, per use, or per outcome? 17 → My AI feature is live. How do I monitor it and make it better with real usage? 18 →

Also in Starting Up

The same ground, over in Build the product, our Starting Up track.

What actually counts as an MVP, and what's the smallest one I can get away with? 20 → Which no-code tool should I use to build my first product? 20 →
eChai Partner Brands The partnership →