When working with a vendor partner on an AI POC, what are your primary objectives? Are you primarily focused on learning about the vendor's capabilities, exploring the potential of a specific AI technology, or demonstrating the value of AI to internal stakeholders?

When working with a vendor partner on an AI proof of concept, the goal is to align the effort with enterprise needs while exploring the potential of the technology and assessing the vendor’s capabilities. It’s about understanding how the solution can address specific challenges, integrate with our systems, and deliver measurable outcomes. At the same time, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate the value of AI to stakeholders, showing how it can drive efficiency, reduce costs, or improve experiences. 

Simply put, the focus is on building confidence in the technology while laying the groundwork for long-term success.

When we engage with a partner, our focus is on the outcomes. We want to know what we will achieve from the engagement and how it will demonstrate value to our stakeholders. Before engaging with a vendor, we thoroughly vet them to ensure they're a good fit. In the AI space, it's tricky because there aren't many expert vendors. Many are startups or companies investing in AI expertise, and everyone is learning together. It's crucial to have a partner mindset because, in many cases, vendors are learning alongside us, often on our dime. Therefore, having a partner who is committed to mutual growth and focusing on outcomes that benefit our business is essential.

I would say it's a combination of both learning about the vendor's capabilities and demonstrating AI's value. Here’s an example: the potential of AI in a 911 center. It's one of our current projects, where AI can significantly enhance operations by reviewing calls and extracting lessons learned. Staffing 911 centers is challenging, as not many people want to be in those high-pressure situations. Therefore, finding value in AI investments is crucial. We're also interested in how AI can aid in training and call deflection. We're looking for vendors who are forward-thinking, not just jumping on the AI bandwagon because it's trendy. We want partners with an innovative mindset and a product roadmap that aligns with our long-term goals.