AI consultant vs fractional head of AI: which to hire.
Choosing an AI consultant vs a fractional head of AI comes down to who owns the results after the plan is written.
- AI consultant
- A plan or one build
- Fractional head of AI
- Owns results month to month
- Not sure?
- Start with a Shadow Day
Operators who've trusted the work
Side by side
| AI consultant | Fractional head of AI | |
|---|---|---|
| You get | Recommendations, or one build | A roadmap, governance, rollouts and training |
| Time frame | A few weeks per project | Month to month, a few days a month |
| Who owns adoption | Your team, often nobody | The fractional head of AI, until your team runs it |
| Best when | You know the one project you need | Several workflows, no AI owner, or stalled adoption |
| Priced as | A project fee | A fixed monthly retainer |
| You end with | A deck or a working build | A trained team and a running AI program |
The 47-second version
When to hire an AI consultant
Hire an AI consultant when the job is clearly defined. You know the workflow, you need it built or assessed, and someone on your team will own it after. For one defined project, a consultant is the faster and cheaper choice. Ours is the AI Sprint: six weeks, one workflow, built into the tools you already use.
When a fractional head of AI fits better
Pick a fractional head of AI when nobody owns AI. Staff use it on their own and pilots stall after launch. That job doesn't end: set priorities each quarter, write the rules for using AI, and keep people using it after the rollout. A fractional head of AI covers it in a few days a month.
Not sure which one you need?
Start with a Shadow Day: one day beside your team, ending with a ranked map of where AI pays off first. One or two clear builds point to a sprint. A long list with no owner points to the retainer.
FAQ
One day settles it.
A Shadow Day ends with a ranked map of where AI pays off first, which tells you whether you need one build or ongoing leadership.