The promise of frontier AI has long been seen as a utility—intelligence on demand, as accessible as electricity or cloud computing. But the reality is different. Top AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google are embedding forward deployed engineers (FDEs) inside customer organizations. These engineers work closely with business teams to tailor AI applications to complex, real-world environments, redesign workflows, and ensure lasting impact. This approach highlights a key paradox: while AI claims to offer scalable, abundant intelligence, its current delivery requires bespoke consulting. FDEs address critical challenges like legacy systems, compliance, and operational constraints that models alone can’t solve yet. This is a transitional phase — similar to early enterprise software — where heavy human involvement precedes mature platform ecosystems. The true breakthrough will come when a platform layer emerges that automatically integrates AI within business contexts through persistent context, processes, permissions, and workflows. Until then, AI remains a tool requiring expert ‘plumbers.’ This shift will mark enterprise AI’s evolution from artisanal implementations to scalable, repeatable platforms.
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