When you need AI leadership now, not after a six-month search. Compare Fractional CAIO engagement against building an internal AI team.
| Aspect | Hyperion | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Time to First Impact | Delivery begins within 2 weeks of contract | 3-6 months to recruit, onboard, and ramp a senior CAIO |
| Breadth of Expertise | Whole firm — ML, MLOps, compliance, Physical AI, strategy | One individual, however talented, with their particular experience set |
| EU AI Act | Conformity assessments built into delivery; practice expertise | New hire must learn or hire a compliance specialist separately |
| Aspect | Hyperion | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-Industry Learning | Best practices from 10+ concurrent client engagements | Single-company perspective develops over time |
| Network | Vendor relationships, researcher network, partner ecosystem | Individual network; takes years to rebuild in new company |
| Seniority | Forbes Tech Council, French Government AI Ambassador-level expertise | Calibre depends on hiring success and budget |
| Aspect | Hyperion | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | €60-120K fractional CAIO, €150-400K full engagement | €200-400K fully-loaded senior hire (salary, equity, benefits, NI) |
| Flexibility | Scale up or down monthly; exit with 30 days notice | Employment law — notice periods, severance, consultation |
| Risk | No recruitment failure risk; proven track record | Bad hire is expensive — up to 3× salary to replace |
A full-time CAIO makes sense when AI is your core product. Hyperion's Fractional CAIO gives you senior AI leadership in weeks — flexible, cost-efficient, and immediately impactful.
Book a 30-minute call. I will give you an honest assessment of whether Hyperion is the right fit — and if not, I will tell you who is.