When AI Consulting Costs More Than AI ROI

Summary

PromptQL made headlines this week for charging $900 an hour for AI engineers. The move signals a shift: AI consulting is becoming more premium, technical, and exclusive. But the question remains: are these sky-high rates a reflection of real expertise and ROI, or are enterprises buying into the next wave of hype?

Key Takeaways

For Business Leaders

• $900/hr consulting may buy you technical talent, but not necessarily outcomes. Evaluate results, not resumes.

• Invest in building internal AI fluency; dependence on premium consultants can create more cost than ROI.

For Investors

• Demand is moving toward technical depth, not strategy theater.

• Startups that package repeatable, domain-specific AI solutions will outcompete hourly consultants in the long run.

For Founders

• Enterprises are signaling they’ll pay big for credible execution.

• Position yourself as the cost-effective alternative: faster deployment, vertical expertise, measurable ROI.

Deep Dive

Want the full analysis?

In this week’s Insider Edition, I break down:

• Why $900/hr rates are a symptom of AI hype colliding with enterprise urgency

• How companies can avoid overpaying for talent while still accessing expertise

• Where founders and investors should look for real ROI opportunities beyond premium consulting

👉 Read the full Inside Edition here → https://insightsonairoi.substack.com