Inference Group
Insights

AI engineering, explained by the person who does it.

Everything here carries Richard’s name because it carries his thinking, and nothing gets published that we haven’t done in production.

Featured · The pillar piece
What is an AI engineering company?

The definition, how it differs from AI consulting, and why the category exists: the piece to read before any scoping call.

Dr. Richard Davis
Dr. Richard Davis · July 2026 · 7 min read
Dr. Richard Davis working with a client

Coming from the desk of Richard Davis

The comparison

AI engineering company vs consultancy vs systems integrator: who actually ships production AI?

Four kinds of firm will sell you enterprise AI. Only one is measured on whether it reaches production. How they differ, and when you actually need each.

By Dr. Richard Davis · July 2026 · 6 min read
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The gap

Why most enterprise GenAI pilots never show a return

Most enterprise GenAI pilots never make it past the pilot. The reason is almost never the model: it is data access, integration, trust, and who owns productionisation.

By Dr. Richard Davis · July 2026 · 6 min read
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From the build

From prototype to production: the checklist nobody budgets for

The unglamorous list — security, evaluation, monitoring, governance, integration, handover — that stands between a demo and software your customers can touch.

By Dr. Richard Davis · July 2026 · 7 min read
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The front door

What a good AI Opportunity Assessment actually delivers

Most 'AI strategy' ends in a slide deck. A real assessment ends in a costed, ranked roadmap you can build from — in days, not a quarter.

By Dr. Richard Davis · July 2026 · 6 min read
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Under The Inference
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