A Chief AI Officer — Without the $400K Salary
Embedded AI leadership for companies that need strategic direction, governance, and execution oversight — but aren't ready for a full-time executive hire.
You need a Fractional CAIO if:
CAIO Lite — Strategic Advisory
10 hours/month | Starting at $8,000/mo Best for: Companies exploring AI, pre-implementation
CAIO Standard — Strategy + Execution
20 hours/month | Starting at $15,000/mo Best for: Companies actively deploying AI, need governance
CAIO Embedded — Full Leadership
30-40 hours/month | Starting at $25,000/mo Best for: Companies scaling AI, preparing for regulation, or building AI teams
Month 1: Assessment & Foundation
Month 2-3: Governance & Quick Wins
Month 4-6: Scale & Transfer
Average engagement: 6-12 months. Some clients keep us on advisory (Lite) indefinitely.
Q:How is this different from hiring an AI consultant?
Consultants deliver reports. A Fractional CAIO attends your standups, sits in your Slack, joins your board meetings, and owns outcomes. It's embedded leadership, not external advice.
Q:Will you build AI systems too, or just advise?
The Fractional CAIO role is strategic and operational — not hands-on-keyboard engineering. If you need systems built, we pair the CAIO engagement with our Custom AI Development service. Many clients do both.
Q:What industries do you work with?
Healthcare, financial services, automotive, government, and defense. All regulated. That's where AI governance isn't optional — it's a requirement.
Q:How fast can you start?
Typically within 1-2 weeks of signed agreement. We limit active Fractional engagements to ensure quality, so availability varies.
Q:What happens when we're ready to hire a full-time AI leader?
That's the goal. We help you write the JD, source candidates, run interviews, and ensure a clean transition. Most engagements naturally wind down as the internal team ramps up.