How do you evaluate AI consulting firms for PE?
Eight criteria matter: PE-specific track record, real AI technical depth (not just strategy decks), data security (do they store your data or delete it after processing?), pricing model (fixed vs. hourly), implementation speed, a plan for getting your team to actually use it, verified results, and ongoing support.
Ask to see systems they have shipped, not proposals they have written. One group delivers tools your team uses Monday morning. The other delivers a PDF that sits in a shared drive.
The fastest way to tell the difference: ask for a live demo of something they built for a firm like yours. If they cannot show you one, that tells you everything.