Hiring July 3, 2026 10 min read

How to Choose an AI Development Company: Buyer's Checklist (2026)

How to choose an AI development company — evaluation checklist for US buyers. Production experience, RAG, integrations, and red flags.

How to choose AI development company

Key takeaways

  • Ask for production case studies with metrics — not demos only.
  • Verify RAG, tool use, and CRM integration experience.
  • Fixed-scope MVPs beat open-ended hourly contracts.

10-Point Evaluation Checklist

  1. Production agent deployments with eval metrics
  2. RAG pipeline experience
  3. CRM and ticketing integrations
  4. US timezone overlap
  5. Fixed-scope pricing option
  6. Code ownership after handoff
  7. Security and PII handling
  8. Post-launch maintenance
  9. References in your industry
  10. Honest timeline estimates

Compare with our detailed hiring guide and about GKAI Studio.

Red Flags

  • No mention of evals or guardrails
  • Fine-tuning recommended before RAG
  • Cannot explain CRM sync
  • No US client references

FAQ

Many US companies hire remote senior teams with timezone overlap — prioritize production experience over office location.

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