Before you hire anyone to implement AI, a handful of pointed questions will tell you more than any sales deck. Here are the ones that matter in 2026. (dgm implements osFoundry as an independent partner — and we answer these openly at the end.)

The seven questions

1. “How would you scope our first use case?”

Genuine expertise shows in how they approach a real problem — identifying the use case, the data, the integration challenges, and how they’d measure success. Vague answers (“we’ll transform your business with AI”) are a warning.

2. “Do you offer a pilot, and what would it cost?”

A good consultant proves value small before a big commitment. No pilot on offer — straight to a large project — is a red flag.

3. “What platform do you use, and does it lock us in?”

Ask whether you can bring your own model keys, switch providers, and avoid being trapped in one proprietary tool. Lock-in is expensive later.

4. “Where would our data be stored?”

Especially for personal, sensitive or regulated data: ask about UK/EU residency, self-hosting, and how transfers are handled under UK GDPR. Dodging this is a red flag. (See our data residency guide.)

5. “How do you handle UK GDPR and human oversight?”

They should speak credibly about lawful basis, DPIAs, the DUAA’s automated-decision rules, and designing human-in-the-loop review for significant decisions.

6. “What’s included in the price — and are there per-seat fees?”

Ask for the total cost of a defined outcome, not just a day rate, and whether software fees scale with headcount. Usage-priced, no-per-seat models are more predictable as you grow.

7. “What happens if we want to leave?”

Can you keep your data, configuration and work? Source-available platforms and clear exit terms protect you.

The meta-signal: honesty

The strongest signal across all seven: honest, specific answers — including admitting limitations — beat confident hype. A consultant who says “that part isn’t a good fit for AI yet” is more trustworthy than one who promises everything.

How dgm answers — openly

  • Scope/pilot: we scope a specific use case and offer a small pilot.
  • Platform/lock-in: we use osFoundry — platform-neutral, bring-your-own-key, self-hostable, source-available (no lock-in).
  • Data: your data can stay in an EU region or your own cloud (osFoundry publishes US/EU/JP regions, not a UK one).
  • Compliance: we design for UK GDPR and human oversight.
  • Pricing: a fixed assessment plus monthly engagement, no per-seat fees.
  • Exit: source-available means you’re not trapped.
  • Track record: dgm has integrated zero companies so far — we tell you rather than fabricate one.

To put these questions to us, book a consultation with dgm. General information to help you hire well.