Developers stop choosing image models manually

Cloudinary's new routing layer selects generative image models automatically based on prompt characteristics. Every few weeks a new model (FLUX, Recraft, Ideogram) claims superiority at some task, and developers spend cycles benchmarking instead of building. Automatic routing offloads that decision to the platform. For DAM teams managing derivative generation, this pattern suggests a future where transformation pipelines select their own tools. The cost is opacity; the benefit is not maintaining a model comparison spreadsheet.