What is an AI deployment firm?
An AI deployment firm puts AI to work inside other organisations. Its engineers build AI systems on the client's own data and tools, take them into production and often keep running them. Deploying AI is the firm's main business, not a practice inside a large consultancy or IT outsourcer, and the work is shaped around each client rather than sold as a software licence.
The tests
- Deploying AI is the business. The firm's main business is building, integrating and running AI systems for client organisations. A generalist IT services or consulting firm with an AI practice doesn't count, and nor does a practice inside a large firm.
- It ships to production. Its engineers build working systems on the client's data and tools (agents, automations, models, AI applications) and stay until they run. Strategy, audits, workshops or training on their own don't count.
- It's built around each client. Forward-deployed or embedded teams, custom builds or managed AI operations, shaped to the client's workflows. Using its own platform or accelerators is fine; selling a self-serve software licence makes it a software company.
- It's a real, independent firm. It has its own website, a team rather than one freelancer, and public evidence of its work: named clients or case studies, funding, a partnership with an AI lab or cloud, or press coverage.
Not on the map
- AI practices inside the Big Four, large consultancies and IT outsourcers
- Software sold by licence or seat, including AI platforms the client runs itself
- AI labs themselves (a separate deployment company backed by a lab is listed)
- Talent marketplaces, staffing firms and solo consultants
- Firms that only advise or train, without building anything
AI Deployment Firms is published by Eilla AI. Map criteria · What's new · Summary for AI tools