Advanced level · Module 5: AI Governance and Strategy · Lesson 3 of 4
Procurement and Vendor Assessment
Evaluate AI products and vendors before buying or adopting them.
In this lesson you will
- Assess AI vendors on capability, data handling and risk
- Plan pilots and contracts
Key concepts
vendor questionnairedata handling and locationevaluation on own dataexit plan
The lesson
Before adopting an AI product, ask how it performs on your own tasks and languages, where data is stored and processed, whether it is used for training, how security is managed and what happens if the vendor changes terms or closes.
Run a small pilot with your own evaluation set and real users before committing.
Contracts should cover data protection, service levels, costs and how you can export your data and leave.
Step by step
- Write a vendor questionnaire.
- Apply it to two AI products.
- Design a pilot.
- List contract requirements.
Practice activity
Complete a vendor assessment for the capstone's model provider.
Expected result: A completed assessment with pilot design and contract points.
Check your understanding
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Why evaluate AI products on your own tasks?
Show answer
Vendor claims may not hold for your data and languages.
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What is an exit plan?
Show answer
How you can export data and stop using the vendor if needed.
Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.