How do I avoid vendor lock-in when buying AI?

Answered

Require explainable, interpretable approaches so other suppliers can continue the work, and build exit and portability into requirements and contracts from the start.

From the guidance

Primary (how) Guidelines for AI procurement

Highly ‘explainable’ outputs from your AI system will be able to be interpreted by your team, and by other suppliers. This will also make it more likely for you to be able to engage with other suppliers to continue or build upon your AI system in the future, limiting the risk of vendor lock-in.

Section: 8. Avoid Black Box algorithms and vendor lock in

Read this in Guidelines for AI procurement (opens in new tab)

Secondary (normative) AI Playbook for the UK Government

consider strategies to avoid vendor lock-in

Section: Specifying your requirements

Read this in AI Playbook for the UK Government (opens in new tab)

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