"We should do something with AI"
AI has been on your agenda for months, but no clear starting point and no owner for execution.
Pilot projects without impact
People tested tools, but no unified strategy and no measurable impact in day-to-day work.
Teams between curiosity and fear
Some experiment in secret, others worry about jobs, leadership lacks one clear narrative.
External consultants delivering slides, not outcomes
Workshops were booked and decks were delivered, but daily operations did not improve.
No in-house capacity
Hiring a senior AI profile is expensive and risky. The external model closes exactly this gap.
Why it pays off
Introducing AI is not a cost item – it is an investment with measurable return.
Optimize processes – Automate routine work, shorten lead times, reduce error rates.
Increase efficiency – Less manual effort, better decision quality, faster outcomes.
Stay competitive – If you do not start now, you risk falling behind tomorrow.
For context: hiring an internal AI specialist often costs €65,000–€90,000/year. Strategy consulting often costs €15,000–€40,000 and usually stops before implementation. Here, you get both for €3,999/month.
What if one person owned all of this end to end?
Someone who does not only advise, but actually executes. Someone who can do strategy and code.
And someone who tells you what is really true, even when it is uncomfortable.
Your external AI lead
Strategic and hands-on AI ownership for your company — without adding permanent headcount.
Large organizations can afford dedicated AI teams. You do not need one — you need someone who takes ownership.
In larger organizations, a Chief AI Officer owns the full AI strategy: technology selection, workforce enablement, and governance. As your external AI lead, I take on that role without requiring a permanent position and with 25+ years of implementation experience.
I take responsibility for AI in your organization. Not as a consultant who says smart things and leaves, but as an active part of your team with clear goals and accountable delivery.
I shape your AI strategy, enable your teams and build the solutions that improve daily work. I also ask the questions that often stay unasked internally.
I am not part of internal politics. I am committed to your outcomes.
Not only strategy
I do not just design the plan – I implement it. AI agents, automations and integrations: I build what you need.
Not only technology
The best AI fails if teams do not adopt it. Change management, training and Responsible AI champions are built in.
Not only nice
I will tell you what works and what does not – including when a project should not be pursued.
AI strategy, training and implementation – one package, everything included
What is included?
No fragmented starter setup. You get strategy, implementation, enablement, and executive sparring in one coherent model.
AI strategy & roadmap
- Analysis of processes, potential and quick wins
- 12-month roadmap with clear milestones
- Prioritization by business impact, not hype
- Quarterly goals and monthly reviews
Enable your teams
- Role-specific enablement sessions
- Practical AI training, no slide marathons
- Responsible AI champions in your teams
- Enable autonomy, not dependency
Change management
- 1:1 conversations to address concerns and opportunities
- Identification and support of AI champions
- Leadership communication support
- Shape culture, not just tool usage
Hands-on implementation
- Build AI agents and automations with Langdock, n8n, and Power Automate – tailored to your existing systems and workflows.
- Integrate into existing systems and workflows
- Prototype and test in real operations
- Move from idea to production
Executive sparring & clear recommendations
- Regular executive-level review
- Honest evaluation: what works, what should stop
- Uncomfortable but necessary questions
- Independent view without internal politics
My approach: 12 months to an AI-ready organization
This approach is based on the Microsoft AI Adoption Framework, adapted for SMEs.
Month 1–2
Phase 1: Explore
Understand where you stand and where the real leverage is.
- Analysis of processes, tools and pain points
- Interviews with team members and leadership
- Identify quick wins and strategic use cases
- Outcome: prioritized AI roadmap
Month 2–4
Phase 2: Experiment
Test what works quickly in real operations, not in a lab.
- Initial AI agents and automations in pilot mode
- Enable first power users / AI champions
- Change management sessions with affected teams
- Outcome: validated use cases with measurable impact
Month 4–8
Phase 3: Operationalize
What works becomes standard. What does not work is removed.
- Rollout to additional teams
- Build responsible AI champions across departments
- Integrate workflows and systems
- Outcome: AI in productive day-to-day operations
Month 8–12
Phase 4: Transform
AI becomes part of your company culture, not just your toolset.
- AI governance and internal policies established
- Teams work independently with AI tools
- Continuous optimization and new use cases
- Outcome: internal capability that scales
Important: these phases are not rigid blocks. In practice they overlap, because companies need early outcomes while transformation continues.
The transition: your team takes over
My goal is not to become indispensable – but to become unnecessary.
When your organization is ready, I shape the transition: I identify the right people in your team, build them up as AI champions, and transfer responsibility step by step. In the end, your team owns AI topics independently – and I stay one call away when needed.
If you already have motivated team members who want to drive AI, even better. I provide guidance and structure so knowledge remains inside your company – not with me.
AI in productive use – not in demo mode
Real project outcomes instead of slideware
For one of Germany's best-known publishing houses, I co-developed an AI-powered research and fact-checking system now used in daily editorial operations. Thousands of articles are checked faster and more thoroughly – not as a replacement for journalists, but as a tool that makes them better.
In addition, I built further internal AI tools for the same organization: an employee platform for secure experimentation with AI applications and an internal API-based translation tool – productive, compliant, and used in everyday work.
Further references and details are available in a personal conversation.
Why a Director Development and Microsoft AI Leader leads your AI transformation
Why me?
My name is Timo Koenig. For more than 25 years I have built software, led teams and transformed companies from startups to corporations.
I implemented ERP systems before cloud became mainstream, built AI-powered research and fact-checking systems for major German publishers, and I know what change means from a managing director perspective.
What sets me apart: I do not only talk about AI. I build it. If your process needs an AI agent, I do not coordinate resources in calls – I implement it.
I believe in technology that makes people better – not obsolete. Tech driven. Human first.
Your external AI lead – one price, all services, no hourly tracking
Your external AI lead · €3,999 / month · 12-month term
External AI lead
One price. Everything included. No surprises.
excl. VAT / month · 12-month term
Included services
- AI strategy & roadmap
- Employee training & enablement
- Change management & AI champions
- Hands-on implementation (AI agents, automations)
- Monthly reviews & quarterly reports
- Direct line – no ticketing, no call center
ROI comparison
| Alternative | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hire an internal AI specialist | €65,000–€90,000/year + recruiting + onboarding |
| Strategy consulting (Big 4 / boutique) | €15,000–€40,000 per project – without implementation |
| External AI lead (ki-is-king.de) | €47,988/year – strategy AND implementation |
No hidden costs. No rate surprises. No "out-of-scope" debates.
FAQ: External AI lead for SMEs
Clear, direct answers about how the model works.
Ready to move AI forward in your company?
No sales pitch. An honest conversation about where you stand, what is possible, and whether I am the right fit. 30 minutes that create clarity.
Book an intro callReady to move AI forward in your company?
No sales pitch. An honest conversation about where you stand, what is possible, and whether I am the right fit. 30 minutes that create clarity.