Insights
Engineering notes on AI in real operations
Practical writing on forward deployed engineering, AI deployment, acceptance criteria and why projects fail. Every article cites its sources.
- Decision8 min read
Acceptance criteria for forward deployed engineers
Most acceptance arguments are lost before delivery. What to agree in writing - evaluation sets, handover, sign-off authority - plus a one-page template.
- Practice7 min read
Forward deployed engineer data security: a checklist
Access, training use, ownership, handover, audit and deletion: the eight things to settle in the contract before a forward deployed engineer starts work.
- Decision6 min read
Forward deployed engineer ROI: a working model
Most AI business cases count only the build. A four-part model - direct, hidden, risk and reuse costs - plus the arithmetic and the metrics that mislead.
- Concept6 min read
FDE vs outsourcing: where the line actually is
Not whether anyone sits on your site, but what remains when the project ends. Three tests, seven questions for any provider, and when you only need outsourcing.
- Decision8 min read
Vetting an FDE provider: a buyer's checklist
A due-diligence checklist for any forward deployed engineering provider: self-check, provider verification, handover design, contracts, and when to stop.
- Concept6 min read
What is a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)? 2026 Guide
A forward deployed engineer works inside the customer's environment to wire AI into the systems they already run - and turns field experience into reusable assets.
- Decision9 min read
When does a company actually need an FDE?
Vague requirements, several legacy systems, or a pilot that never shipped: the cases that justify a forward deployed engineer, and what to do instead.
- Practice9 min read
Why AI pilots fail: 9 patterns and the early signals
Why AI pilots fail is rarely about the model. Nine failure patterns with their root causes and early signals, a scoping checklist, and how to win over users.
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