Research-driven
perspectives
Practitioner-first perspectives on AI consulting, implementation, compliance, and engineering leadership. No fluff. No hot takes. Just what actually works - from someone who ships.
AI & Automation
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AI & Automation Build vs Buy vs Wrap: The AI Framework
The three options - wrap an API, buy a platform, or build custom - each have clear trade-offs. Here's the decision tree I walk clients through, with real costs.
AI & Automation The First 30 Days of an AI Audit
An AI audit replaces incomplete information with a complete picture. Two weeks. You go from 'I think we should do something' to 'here's exactly what to do.'
AI & Automation We Built AI. Nobody Uses It.
The model works. The accuracy is good. Nobody uses it. This is the most common AI failure I see - and it's not a technical problem.
AI & Automation POC to Production - The Valley of Death
80% of AI projects die between POC and production. Here are the 7 things that break when you move from demo to real - and how to prevent each one.
AI & Automation Security Blocked Our AI Project. Now What?
The most common reason AI pilots die after the demo is security blocking data from leaving the infrastructure. Here's how to build for compliance from the start.
AI & Automation What Happens When the Consultant Leaves
Most AI engagements end with a system nobody understands and a vendor who's suddenly very expensive to reach. Here's how to spot the trap and what real handover looks like.
Business Strategy
(14)
Business Strategy AI Projects I Turn Down
Every consultant says they're honest. Few prove it. Here's my proof: a list of AI projects I've turned down, why I said no, and what I recommended instead.
Business Strategy The CEO's Guide to AI
Most CEOs don't understand AI. They pretend they do in board meetings while secretly Googling 'what is a large language model.' Here's what you actually need to know.
Business Strategy EU AI Act for Mid-Market
The first comprehensive AI regulation. Fines up to €35M or 7% of global revenue. Most content targets enterprise. This is the plain-English guide for 50-500 employee companies.
Business Strategy How to Evaluate an AI Vendor
Every AI vendor sounds the same in the sales call. The difference shows up in week 8 when the demo breaks. Here are the 10 questions that separate builders from talkers.
Business Strategy How to Evaluate a Fractional CTO
Fractional CTO is an unregulated title. Here's how to tell if you're hiring someone who delivers or someone who just sounds good in a sales call.
Business Strategy Measuring AI ROI Without Lying to Yourself
The real ROI is always lower than the vendor's claim - and still worth doing if you measure honestly. Here's the formula, the metrics that matter, and the ones that lie.
Business Strategy 5 Signs You Need a Technical Audit
You don't know what you don't know. Here are the five signs that tell you it's time for a technical audit - before a crisis forces one.
Business Strategy Technical Due Diligence for Investors
Investors are increasingly bringing technical assessors into the deal process. If you're raising capital, here's what they look for - and the red flags that kill deals.
Business Strategy You Tried AI. It Didn't Work. Now What?
You spent money on AI. You got a demo, a deck, or nothing. Now you're wondering if AI is real or just hype. It's real. But what you got wasn't AI - it was a sales process.
Business Strategy What an AI System Actually Costs
The biggest fear isn't that AI won't work - it's that you'll spend money you can't afford and have nothing to show for it. Here's exactly where the money goes.
Business Strategy What a Fractional CTO Actually Does
The biggest reason fractional CTO engagements fail is mismatched expectations. Here's exactly what's in scope, what's not, and how to document it upfront.
Business Strategy What If AI Makes a Mistake?
Every executive has the same nightmare: AI makes a wrong decision, a customer is harmed, and nobody can explain why. The solution isn't to avoid AI - it's to build accountability in.
Business Strategy When Not to Use AI
I've turned down AI projects. The pressure to 'do AI' leads to bad decisions. Here are seven scenarios where AI is the wrong answer - and what to do instead.
Business Strategy When to Hire a Fractional CTO vs Full-Time
Full-time CTO or fractional? The answer depends on your stage, complexity, and budget. Here's the framework that tells you which one you need right now.
