# 20 Questions to Ask an AI Hardware Supplier

Use the questions that fit your stage. Ask for specific evidence and record assumptions in writing.

## Supplier fit

1. Are you the manufacturer, solution provider, trading company, or product owner for this model?
2. Which parts of the product are made or controlled by your company, and which are outsourced?
3. What similar product platform can you demonstrate without exposing another customer's confidential work?
4. Who will be the technical owner for our sample and quotation questions?

## Existing platform and customization

5. Which requested functions already exist and can be demonstrated now?
6. Which functions require firmware, app, PCB, module, enclosure, or tooling changes?
7. What cannot be changed on the current platform?
8. Which hardware, firmware, SDK, API, and cloud dependencies are controlled by third parties?

## Files and intellectual property

9. Which technical files do you need from us before a reliable quote?
10. Which files will you deliver with the sample and production order?
11. Who owns new tooling, firmware changes, enclosure files, and other paid development outputs?
12. How will sensitive AI logic, source code, credentials, and user data be separated from factory access?

## Samples and validation

13. Is the quoted sample an off-the-shelf unit, modified existing product, engineering prototype, or production-intent sample?
14. What exactly will the first sample prove, and what will remain unvalidated?
15. What sample tests can you perform, and what evidence will you provide?
16. How are sample changes recorded, approved, and reflected in the next revision?

## Quote and scale-up

17. What assumptions, exclusions, MOQ, tooling, certification, packaging, and shipping terms are included in the quote?
18. Which components have long lead times, allocation risk, minimum purchase requirements, or substitution risk?
19. What changes between sample pricing and production pricing?
20. What must be completed before you can issue a firm production quote and schedule?

Do not treat one answer as proof. Request demonstrations, files, samples, test evidence, and written scope appropriate to the decision.