# Control and Self-Hosting Trends in AI Models An in-depth look at the management of AI models and self-hosting solutions. - **Source:** [Martin Fowler](https://martinfowler.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-13 - **Topic:** [Data & AI](https://brifing.si/c/data-ai) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/a46de207-0b31-4dd5-876b-bfb81ce21c77 ## Focus on Harness Engineering A session on Harness Engineering was held at the Thoughtworks Retreat. Discussions centered on context management and focus techniques for models. Participants emphasized the importance of ensuring models focus on the right context. ## Context Management Strategies Even as context windows expand, focusing on the right information is critical. One participant shared that keeping the context small and limiting files led to more effective results. ## Computational Sensors and Language Preferences On the sensor side, discussions revolved around transitioning to more controlled languages like Rust and enhancing validation techniques. These approaches aim to improve model performance. ## The Future of Harnesses The future of harnesses and whether they will become obsolete as models evolve was questioned. Some participants believe harnesses could remain a long-term solution. ## Advantages of Self-Hosting Models Rising token costs and the need for independence are making self-hosting models attractive. Participants highlighted issues of model sovereignty and security. ## Cost and Independence Self-hosting models offer advantages in cost control and independence. However, challenges such as GPU usage and data center management remain. ## The Role of Fine-Tuning Fine-tuning models for specific domains can reduce token consumption and lower costs. This could support the broader adoption of self-hosting models in the future. ## Model Brokerage The idea of models acting as brokers, deciding which model is best suited for certain tasks, was discussed. This could alleviate the workload for engineers. ## Role of Professional Services Professional service firms supporting the management of self-hosting models are seen as a significant opportunity. This could help companies use data centers more efficiently. ## Strategies for the Future In this uncertain field, developing strategies that adapt to inevitable changes is more important than finding the right answer. ## Insights from the Event The key takeaway from the retreat was understanding how much work models can handle and ensuring reliability in the process. ## Unit Work and Agents The underlying question in all sessions was how much unit work could be delegated to an agent. This was addressed differently in various contexts. ## Sources covering this story - https://martinfowler.com/fragments/2026-07-13.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._