Your AI Growth Department
How to choose an AI consultant in Australia
Six questions to ask before you sign, whoever you choose.
Why the choice matters more than the tool
Anyone can call themselves an AI consultant this year. The tools are easy to buy; getting them to work safely inside a real business is the hard part. A poor choice rarely fails loudly. It shows up as a pilot nobody uses, a staff member pasting client files into a free chatbot, or a monthly bill for software that never quite fitted. These six questions separate the people who can deliver from the people who can present.
Where does my data go, and who protects it?
Why ask: AI runs on your most sensitive information: client files, finances, staff records. And from 10 December 2026, businesses covered by the Privacy Act must explain in their privacy policy when software makes, or is a key factor in, decisions that could significantly affect a person.
Can you show me AI running for a client today?
Why ask: demos and slide decks are easy. A system that has been doing real work, every day, for months is not.
Who does the work, and who is accountable?
Why ask: many AI projects are sold by one person and built by someone you never meet.
How will you decide what to automate first?
Why ask: the wrong first project sinks the whole programme. The right one pays its way and builds trust inside your business.
What happens after go-live?
Why ask: AI is not a one-off install. Models change, your processes change, and someone needs to watch the results.
How will you bring my team with you?
Why ask: the AI only works if your people trust it and use it. Staff who feel threatened will route around it.
The checklist: take it into any meeting
| Ask | Good sign | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Where does my data go? | A written map of what is stored where, and who can access it | "The platform handles it" |
| Show me AI running today | A live system, how long it has run, what went wrong | Demos and "coming soon" only |
| Who does the work? | A named senior person, accountable after the sale | "The team" |
| What goes first? | Options ranked by value and risk, in your numbers | Open-ended exploring |
| After go-live? | Monthly monitoring, fixes and a short report | A handover doc and an hourly rate |
| My team? | Training, an AI policy, less grind for staff | No mention of people |
Choosing an AI consultant in Perth or Sydney
Local matters for the parts of AI work that happen in a room: mapping how your business really runs, workshops with your team, and the leadership conversations. Whoever you are talking to, ask how often they will be on site, and what happens by video in between.
Where Third Vision fits
Most AI consultants don't know security. Most IT firms don't know growth. We do both.
Third Vision is led by Allan Lindhardt, a Fractional AI Officer with 25+ years in IT and cyber security. We find where AI pays off in your business, then put AI employees to work on it, and we stay to run them. Our AI workers are doing real work every day for a Perth property management agency and a Perth law firm. Client information stays on Australian-hosted AI, and we will show you exactly where each piece of your data lives.
We are a good fit for owner-led businesses with 10 to 200 staff in Perth and Sydney who want AI that runs every day, not a report on a shelf. We are probably not the right fit if you want a tool installed and left alone.
Our promise is simple: grow more, work less.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an AI consultant or an IT company?
An IT company keeps your systems running; an AI consultant changes how the work gets done. You want both skills in the room, because AI that touches client data is a security decision as much as a business one.
How much does an AI consultant cost?
It depends on scope, so ask for a fixed price on a small first step before any larger commitment. Be wary of open-ended hourly engagements with no defined outcome.
How long until we see results?
A well-chosen first project should be working within weeks, not months. If the first result is a year away, the first project is too big.
Is it safe to put client data into AI?
It can be, with the right setup: business-grade AI that keeps your data private, Australian hosting where it matters, controlled access and a clear staff policy. The risk is usually free consumer tools used without rules.
What should our first AI project be?
The task your team repeats most, that follows clear rules, and that you can measure: inbound enquiries, document handling, data entry or follow-up are common starting points.
Does the consultant need to be local?
Not always, but in-person time matters when you are mapping how your business works and bringing your team along. Choose someone who can be in the room when it counts, and works by video in between.
Bring these six questions to your AI Game Plan. We'll answer every one.
Book an AI Game PlanGrow SmarterReclaim TimeGet AheadStay Secure
Your AI Growth Department
Get in touch
Phone Numbers
+61 2 5700 6333 (AI Receptionist Sydney)
+61 8 7744 6333 (AI Receptionist Perth)
+61 435 332 320 (Mobile)
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us
© Third Vision 2026 All Rights Reserved.
AI consulting and AI employees for businesses in Perth and Sydney
Grow Smarter • Reclaim Time • Get Ahead • Stay Secure