OpenAI Launches $10M+ Custom AI Consulting for Enterprises and Government

OpenAI is now offering custom artificial intelligence services starting at $10 million per engagement, according to The Information. Early clients reportedly include the U.S. Department of Defense and Southeast Asian tech company Grab.

This move marks a major expansion beyond foundational model development, as the company shifts toward delivering tailored AI solutions for businesses and government agencies. The new offering centers on customized deployments of GPT-4o, OpenAI’s most advanced model, built directly into client operations.

Embedded Engineers and Custom AI Integrations

Under this program, OpenAI assigns human forward-deployed engineers (FDEs) to work directly inside client organizations. These engineers collaborate on-site to integrate GPT-4o with proprietary systems and design customized tools such as intelligent chatbots and automated workflows.

OpenAI’s goal is to deliver enterprise-grade AI systems that address complex operational challenges. The program is led in part by Aleksander Mądry, a researcher focused on aligning large language models with specific client objectives.

Competing with Industry Giants

The move puts OpenAI in direct competition with established consulting firms like Palantir and Accenture, both of which offer large-scale AI solutions to government and enterprise customers. Many of the engineers leading this effort at OpenAI were hired from Palantir, bringing deep experience in high-stakes AI deployment.

Pricing starts at $10 million per engagement, with large, multi-year contracts potentially reaching into the hundreds of millions. According to sources cited by The Information, OpenAI believes it can offer so much value that billion-dollar deals could eventually become standard.

What This Means

This pivot positions OpenAI as a full-service AI provider, offering not just models but deeply integrated solutions. By embedding its talent inside client systems, OpenAI is aiming to deliver AI tools that go beyond general capabilities and directly serve business and governmental goals.

Unlike off-the-shelf software, these custom deployments reflect a growing demand for AI systems that can adapt to the specific constraints, risks, and infrastructures of large organizations. With pricing that starts at $10 million, this offering clearly targets major enterprises and public-sector institutions—not small or mid-sized businesses.

If successful, this strategy could redefine how enterprises adopt and scale AI—turning bespoke model integration into a new benchmark for innovation.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.