Interviewing AI professionals can feel intimidating if you're not technical. These 20 questions will help you evaluate candidates confidently — no technical background required.
About Their Experience (Questions 1-5)
1. What industries have you implemented AI solutions for?
2. Can you share a case study similar to our project?
3. What was the measurable outcome of your last AI project?
4. How many AI implementations have you completed?
5. What's the biggest AI project that didn't go as planned, and what did you learn?
About Their Approach (Questions 6-10)
6. How would you approach our specific problem?
7. What data would you need from us to get started?
8. How do you handle situations where the data isn't ready?
9. What does your typical project timeline look like?
10. How do you ensure knowledge transfer so we're not dependent on you?
About the Technology (Questions 11-15)
11. What AI tools or platforms do you recommend and why?
12. Will we own the solution, or is it proprietary to you?
13. How do you handle data privacy and security?
14. What happens if the AI model needs to be retrained or updated?
15. How does the solution integrate with our existing systems?
About Pricing and Terms (Questions 16-20)
16. What is your pricing model (hourly, project-based, retainer)?
17. What's included in the price, and what costs extra?
18. What are the ongoing costs after the initial implementation?
19. What does your contract look like, and what are the exit terms?
20. Do you offer a pilot or proof-of-concept phase before full commitment?
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
That's a red flag. A good AI professional should be able to explain their experience, approach, and pricing in plain language. If they hide behind jargon or get defensive, move on.
Absolutely. Ask for 2-3 references from similar projects. Specifically ask references about communication, deliverable quality, timeline adherence, and whether they'd hire the consultant again.