Most AI Transformation Consultants Are Just Selling You ChatGPT Subscriptions

Don't Pay for Generic Advice

The market is flooded with "AI Experts" who were "Crypto Experts" two years ago. If your consultant delivers a PDF strategy but no code, you have been scammed.

The Pattern

Here is what most "AI Transformation" consultants actually deliver:

1. Week 1-2: Interviews and workshops (billable)
2. Week 3-4: Strategy deck with obvious recommendations (billable)
3. Week 5-6: Handover meeting where they tell you to hire developers (billable)

Total cost: $50k-$100k. Total code committed to your repo: zero.

Why This Happens

Strategy is easier to sell than engineering. It is lower risk for the consultant, higher margin, and does not require technical capability. The consultant gets paid regardless of whether you implement anything.

The Test

Before hiring any AI consultant or agency, ask:

1. "Can you show me code from a previous project?" (Not slides. Code.)
2. "Will your team commit code to our repository?"
3. "What does the working demo look like after two weeks?"
4. "How do you measure success beyond 'adoption'?"

If they cannot answer these questions confidently, they are selling slides, not solutions.

What Real Transformation Looks Like

Real transformation requires:

• Engineers who understand your business
• Code that ships to production
• Metrics that tie to revenue or cost savings
• Iteration based on real usage data

Strategy without execution is hallucination. You need partners who commit code to your repo.

We measure our success by the code we ship, not the slides we present. Every engagement produces working software, not just recommendations.