🎁 Get my FREE local AI projects: https://zenvanriel.com/open-source
⚡ Become a high-earning AI engineer: https://aiengineer.community/join
My existing fine-tuning videos (start here):
Fine-tuning explained: • The Honest Guide To Fine-Tuning Local AI I...
Hands-on fine-tuning walkthrough: • Fine-Tuning AI Without Slop Is Finally Here
Tools mentioned:
Unsloth (local fine-tuning): https://unsloth.ai
OpenAI is deprecating its fine-tuning API. Their stated reason: prompt engineering is good enough now that models are smarter. The real lesson is bigger - if you don't know how to fine-tune open-source models on your own hardware, your entire AI stack lives at the mercy of whatever a provider decides to deprecate next.
In this video I break down what's actually happening, why fine-tuning still matters for any team with niche data, and the exact path I recommend to learn it properly using local models with Unsloth instead of relying on a closed API that can disappear overnight.
What You'll Learn
Why OpenAI is winding down fine-tuning and what their official reasoning actually means
The hidden problem with managed fine-tuning APIs (fine-tuned models retire after ~18 months on Azure too)
Why prompt engineering does NOT replace fine-tuning for niche enterprise data
When fine-tuning still beats prompting: domain language, structured outputs, sovereign AI, on-prem requirements
Why "sovereign AI" and EU compliance push fine-tuning back onto local hardware
How to start fine-tuning open-source models locally with Unsloth (the easiest entry point)
Why every AI engineer should own this skill before the next API deprecation hits
Timestamps
0:00 OpenAI Stops Fine-tuning API
0:20 3 Methods To Better AI
1:53 Why Is OpenAI Ending Fine-tuning?
2:40 Why This API was awesome
3:25 The Real Reason
4:22 Do We Still Need Fine-tuning?
5:10 You don't own cloud-based models
5:56 How to learn fine-tuning
Why I Made This Video
Every time a closed API deprecates a feature, engineers who only know that API lose a chunk of their stack overnight. Fine-tuning is one of the highest-leverage AI skills you can own, and the moment OpenAI stepped back from it is the moment to learn it properly on open-source models you actually control.
#openai #finetuning #localai #unsloth #aiengineer #opensourceai #llm #aicoding #sovereignai #aiengineering #localllm #machinelearning #aicareer #openaiapi #gpt
Connect
LinkedIn: / zen-van-riel
Community: https://www.skool.com/ai-engineer
Sponsorships & Business Inquiries: [email protected]