Work With Me

Practical AI, built by someone who has shipped it.

I help companies put AI to work where it actually pays off - and steer clear of the expensive mistakes making headlines. 30 years architecting software, now running my own AI systems in production. Enterprise-grade thinking, without the enterprise runaround.

Book a 30-minute call See how I can help

Most AI projects fail for the same reason

Companies buy the hype, hand their judgment to a tool, and end up with worse work and a surprise bill. Ford rehired 350 engineers after AI tanked its quality checks. Others burned through entire budgets in weeks because nobody set a usage cap. The lesson keeps repeating: AI extends what your experienced people already know. It does not replace them.

The technology is the easy part. Knowing where AI fits, where it does not, and how to deploy it so it stays reliable and affordable - that is the job. That is what I do.

How I can help

Start with a fixed-scope assessment, bring me in to build, or retain me as your ongoing technical leader. Every engagement is hands-on - you work directly with me, not a handoff to a junior.

Project

AI Build & Implementation

Custom AI built to production standards, not a demo that breaks the first time a real customer touches it.

  • AI agents and MCP integrations that connect to your real tools and data
  • Chat and search over your own documents, grounded so it does not make things up
  • Automation for the repetitive work eating your team's hours
  • Built with confirmations, guardrails, and cost controls from day one
$3,500

Architecture & AI Assessment

A focused look at your existing system or AI stack. I tell you what it costs to run, where the real risk is, and what your realistic options are.

  • Current-state architecture documentation and technical-debt inventory
  • Model routing and right-sizing to cut AI spend without losing quality
  • Guardrails and permissions so an agent cannot do real damage
  • Options analysis: refactor vs. replace vs. stay the course, with effort estimates
$5,500

Technical Due Diligence

For acquisitions and investments. I assess the codebase, infrastructure, and team, then deliver a written report with a realistic post-acquisition picture. Two to three weeks, 50% upfront.

  • Codebase quality and technical-debt assessment
  • Infrastructure and security review
  • Team structure and capability evaluation
  • Modernization feasibility, estimated cost, and a risk summary for a non-technical audience
$7,500/mo

Fractional CTO Retainer

Ongoing technical leadership for companies that need a senior technical voice without a full-time hire. Up to 15 hours per week. Three-month minimum, 30-day cancellation notice after that.

  • Architecture decisions and technical strategy
  • Technology and vendor evaluation
  • Engineering team direction and code review
  • Executive-facing technical communication, hiring, and roadmap planning

Enterprise experience, without the enterprise runaround

I still write the code. 30 years as a software architect who never stopped building. You get the person who does the work, not a slide deck and a junior handoff.

I run this in production. My own AI infrastructure - a 59-tool MCP server, autonomous agents, and a RAG system - runs live every day. I am not selling something I have only read about.

Plain English, always. I explain the tradeoffs in language you can act on, and I tell you when AI is the wrong tool. No hype, no jargon, no pressure to buy more than you need.

Is this a fit?

A good fit if you

  • Want AI applied to real problems, with an honest read on what it can and cannot do
  • Want enterprise-grade technical judgment without a full-time hire
  • Value someone who ships working software, not a strategy PDF
  • Would rather do one thing well than automate everything at once

Not a fit if you

  • Want to fire your experienced people and replace them with a chatbot
  • Are shopping purely on price and lowest bid wins
  • Expect AI to run your business with no human in the loop
  • Are looking for hype to put in a pitch deck rather than something that works

Let's talk

Tell me what you are trying to do and where AI might fit. I'll give you a straight answer on whether it makes sense - and if a fixed-scope assessment is the right first step, we'll start there.

Book a 30-minute call

Or reach me directly: info@coreyklass.com. Based in the SF East Bay; remote engagements welcome.