How to Evaluate an AI Vendor Without Getting Burned

AI vendors are everywhere right now, and not all of them are straightforward. If you’re a San Diego small business evaluating AI services, the pressure to “keep up” can push you toward signing something before you fully understand what you’re buying.

Here’s a practical filter to apply before committing.

1. Can They Show You a Working Example?

Not a pitch deck. Not a demo video. An actual working system they built for a business similar to yours. If they can’t show you something real, they’re still figuring it out — and you’re paying for their education.

2. What Does “AI” Actually Mean in Their Proposal?

Ask specifically: what technology powers this? Automation (like Zapier) and AI are different things. Both can be valuable, but you deserve to know what you’re getting. Reputable vendors can answer this without hesitation.

3. What Does Failure Look Like?

Ask what happens when something breaks. Who fixes it? How fast? What’s the fallback? A vendor who hasn’t thought through failure scenarios hasn’t built anything in production.

4. Who Owns the Work?

If you part ways, do you keep the system? Can you run it without the vendor? Or are you locked into their platform indefinitely? Understand this before you start.

5. What’s the Timeline to Something Useful?

If the answer is “six months to see value,” that’s not AI consulting — that’s a software project. Focused AI work on specific workflows should produce tangible results within 2–4 weeks.

The Short Version

Good AI vendors are specific, can show real work, and don’t hide behind jargon. If you’re getting vague answers to direct questions, that’s your answer.

If you want a straight conversation about what AI could actually do for your business — no pitch, no pressure — book a free 20-minute call.