How to Evaluate AI Tools Without Vendor Lock-In

Hosted by Marcus Stiehler

Thu, Aug 13, 2026

1:30 PM UTC (30 minutes)

Virtual (Zoom)

Free to join

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What you'll learn

The 3 Questions Every AI Tool Decision Should Start With

Skip the demo theater — ask these 3 questions first to see if a tool actually fits your workflow.

Spotting Vendor Lock-In Before You Sign

A practical checklist for spotting where a tool quietly narrows your future options — before you commit.

A Platform-Neutral Decision Framework You Can Reuse

Leave with a reusable framework for judging any AI platform against your actual business needs.

Why this topic matters

Most AI adoption fails not because of the tool, but because it locks teams into someone else's roadmap. After 20 years architecting enterprise systems — including years navigating platform decisions at The Walt Disney Company — I've seen rushed choices cost months of rework. This session gives you a fast, practical way to judge any AI platform on its own merits, not the vendor's.

You'll learn from

Marcus Stiehler

Ex-Disney Solutions Architect | Native German | AI & Digital Transformation

Previously at The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company
See all products from Marcus

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