Everything is AI-powered now, or so they say. For project developers, the question isn’t “does it use AI?” but “will it actually solve my project pain points?” With a surge of new platforms touting AI features, it’s getting harder to tell what’s genuinely useful and what’s just a repackaged chatbot.
To help cut through the noise, here are 5 tips for evaluating AI tools:
- Ask What the AI Actually Does: Is it surfacing deal risks? Tagging clauses in contracts? Generating summary profiles? Or is it just a chat interface on top of PDFs? If it’s unclear, that’s a red flag.
- Verify the Data Source: Trustworthy tools offer verifiable, source-linked outputs. If you can’t trace back the source of the AI’s answers, it’s not built for diligence and your lawyers will never use it.
- Evaluate Information Handling: You’re uploading sensitive documents. How is your data secured? Can you control access and visibility? These answers should be clear.
- Watch for Gimmicks: Generic LLMs without context. No guardrails for hallucinations. Zero transparency into training data or model logic. These are signs of immature or risky tools.
- Consider Timing and ROI: AI evolves fast, but the best tools evolve with it. Look for platforms that are quick to deploy, easy to adapt, and designed to scale with your workflow. In a high-cost, low-margin environment, long-term durability means controlling costs. The right tools should reduce both operating and transaction costs, preserving developer margins where it matters most.
The future of clean energy project development and finance depends on transparency, functionality, and real results. Expect the same from your AI tools.
BuildQ’s Approach to AI
Our AI is purpose-built for clean energy teams. We surface risk, organize chaos, and empower developers, financiers, and legal teams without trying to replace them. With context-aware outputs, source citations, and a security-first design, we help teams move faster, smarter, and with full control.
