What are you actually paying for
Some firms sell advice, some sell software they are paid to place, and some sell hours. Ask plainly what the deliverable is and what it costs. If the answer is vague, or the recommendation always points to one product, treat that as a sign that the advice may not be neutral.
How they handle your data
AI work often means giving someone access to customer records, documents, or internal systems. Ask where your data goes, who can see it, and what happens to it when the work ends. A serious partner has a clear answer. If access is requested before that is settled, slow down.
Whether they will tell you not to buy
A good advisor will sometimes tell you to wait, use a tool you already own, or buy nothing. Ask for an example of when they told a client not to spend. If every conversation ends in a purchase or a bigger project, the incentives may not be on your side.
What you are left with when they leave
Ask what you keep at the end: a written plan, documentation, working access, and the ability to run things without them. Help that leaves you dependent on the provider for every small change is a cost that keeps growing after the invoice is paid.
The short version
- Ask what the deliverable is and what it costs, in plain terms.
- Settle data access and handling before you grant anything.
- A good advisor will sometimes tell you not to buy.
- Make sure you keep a plan and working access when they leave.
- Be wary when every answer points to one product.