The CTO's Guide to Evaluating AI Vendors Without Getting Burned

Vendor selection for AI systems should start with outcomes, not demos. Most pitches focus on features, but your shortlist should be based on architecture fit, governance posture, and operational fit.

Ask for model drift handling, failure playbooks, data residency commitments, and support model coverage before pricing. The best vendor often wins on implementation support, not the size of the roadmap slide.