Mercorp Blog

Writing from the team.

Engineering deep-dives, AI strategy, and honest writing about building software in production.

EngineeringFebruary 19, 20267 min read

Building Production-Ready RAG Systems in 2026

Most RAG demos work. Most RAG production systems do not. Here is what separates a weekend prototype from something you can stake your product reputation on.

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Strategy6 min read

Why Most AI Projects Fail Before Launch

The failure modes for AI projects are different from the failure modes for conventional software. Understanding them in advance is the only reliable way to avoid them.

February 4, 2026Read

Strategy5 min read

The Case for Custom AI — And When It Does Not Apply

Off-the-shelf AI tools have gotten very good. The calculus of when to build versus buy has shifted. Here is how we think about it.

January 21, 2026Read

Product5 min read

Designing AI Interfaces That Users Actually Trust

Technical accuracy is necessary but not sufficient for AI adoption. The interface layer — how the system communicates uncertainty, handles errors, and supports human override — is often the deciding factor.

January 9, 2026Read

Engineering6 min read

Why We Build AI Applications on Firebase

We use Firebase as the backbone for most of the AI systems we ship. Here is the reasoning behind that choice, the trade-offs we accept, and where we reach for something else.

December 17, 2025Read