Questions to Ask AI Vendors Before Buying
Critical questions to ask AI vendors. Reveals real capability and risks.
Technical capability
- Show specific examples for our use case (not generic demos)
- Quality metrics on tasks like ours
- What happens when AI fails?
- How do you handle hallucination?
Integration
- How does this connect to our existing systems?
- What's the integration timeline and cost?
- API access and limitations?
Security and compliance
- SOC 2 Type II?
- Data residency options?
- Data used for training?
- GDPR, sector compliance?
Vendor health
- Financial stability?
- Customer references in our industry?
- Roadmap commitments?
Bottom line
Probing questions reveal vendor reality. Diligence prevents bad selections.
Frequently asked questions
Most important question?
Show specific examples for our use case. Generic demos mislead. Industry-specific evidence reveals fit.
Red flags from vendors?
Vague answers, no references, missing compliance, demos that don't match production reality.
Should I ask about competitors?
Yes — how they compare to alternatives. Honest answers reveal credibility. Defensive answers concerning.
Pricing transparency?
Standard for SaaS tiers; enterprise custom. Total cost questions important — implementation, training, ongoing.
Vendor stability questions?
Funding history, customer base, executive team, product roadmap. Multi-year commitment requires confidence.
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