Base44's CEO says the company built its own model to stop churning out AI-slop designs

Base44, a San Francisco-based startup, is on a mission to transform the way users create websites, offering a fresh alternative to the standardized designs often produced by AI. The company has introduced its proprietary large language model, named Base 1, which is designed to help users escape the cookie-cutter aesthetic that has become prevalent in AI-generated websites. On Monday, Base44 made headlines by announcing that users can now choose Base 1 from a lineup of AI models, which also includes Claude’s Opus 4.8, Fable 5, and OpenAI’s GPT-5.5, before initiating app development. CEO Shlomo shared insights with Business Insider, emphasizing that the motivation behind creating Base 1 was to address the monotonous appearance of many AI-designed products. He pointed out that relying on widely-used models often results in a uniform user interface that lacks individuality. Following its acquisition by Wix for $80 million last June, Base44 has become an integral part of Wix's web development toolkit. Shlomo noted that Wix's extensive team of designers contributes a rich dataset, which is instrumental in training the new model. The Base44 team plans to utilize a technique known as reinforcement learning, enabling Base 1 to continuously generate fresh and distinctive designs. While Shlomo admits that Base 1 is still a work in progress, he is optimistic about its potential to deliver uniquely different user interfaces with each iteration. Development of Base 1 began six months ago, and recent breakthroughs have allowed for an earlier-than-expected launch. Shlomo believes that the ability to produce original designs will give Base44 a competitive edge in a market that includes startups like Lovable, Replit, and Cursor. He also highlighted concerns raised by UI/UX experts regarding the generic appearance of AI-generated designs, with Paul Bakaus, CEO of AI design firm Impeccable, describing them as resembling an 'algorithmic Uniqlo or Ikea'—functional but lacking in uniqueness. Shlomo concluded that by honing a model's capabilities for a specific use case, Base44 can stand out in a crowded field of AI design tools.