Join the AI conversation: everything you need to know.

The buzz around AI isn’t just loud—it’s constant. From boardrooms to Reddit threads, AI is a hot topic that’s shaping how businesses operate and how professionals across departments think about innovation. But to truly join the conversation, you need more than just a surface-level understanding. You need to know what’s being said, why it matters, and what buyers—real decision-makers—are prioritizing right now. 

How to get in the AI game (and stay there). 

If you want to be in the AI game—truly in it—you can’t afford to be on the sidelines of these conversations. Compliance, security, ethics, usability, and the very real struggles of adoption aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the core pillars shaping today’s AI landscape.  

Staying relevant means staying informed, and if you’re not speaking the language of these topics, you’re already a few steps behind. But don’t worry, that’s exactly why we’re here. We’ve done the heavy lifting, combed through the data, tracked the trends, and unpacked the conversations dominating the AI market so you don’t have to.  

This blog is your shortcut to getting up to speed, and your ticket to joining the conversation with confidence. Let’s get you in the door, here’s what everyone’s talking about.

1. Data privacy and protection

AI is only as powerful as the data that fuels it—but if that data isn’t handled with the utmost care, the risks far outweigh the rewards. Across all buyer segments, safety is emerging as a top concern. The AI buyer is increasingly wary of how proprietary or sensitive data is collected, stored, and used, especially in high-stakes sectors like healthcare, education, and financial services. These industries top the charts in AI research due to their access to rich datasets—but also bear the greatest risk due to the prevalence of personally identifiable information (PII). 

Buyers are asking hard questions: Is our proprietary data at risk of leakage? Is our AI vendor fully compliant with data protection laws? Was this model trained on public data without proper consent? As generative AI becomes more prevalent, transparency around training data, consent, and bias mitigation isn’t just a bonus—it’s a baseline requirement. If vendors can’t offer clarity and ethical assurances around data usage, they’re out of the running. 

What’s more, the looming spectrum of AI-enhanced cyber threats is creating even more urgency. With the National Cyber Security Centre warning of increased risk to organizations handling sensitive information, buyers now expect airtight security infrastructure and third-party verifications. The message is clear: if the data’s not safe, the deal’s off.

2. The compliance challenge

AI is evolving fast—but legislation is struggling to keep pace. As a result, today’s buyers are doing more than just checking boxes; they’re actively forecasting regulatory risk. They know that buying AI isn’t just a tech decision—it’s a legal one. 

With laws like the GDPR already in place in Europe and new regulations emerging in the U.S.—such as California’s Consumer Privacy Rights Act and New York’s AEDT—companies must ensure that their tools align with both current and forthcoming rules. Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection Act even gives consumers the right to opt out of AI profiling, underscoring how consumer rights are reshaping the AI space. 

This is why forward-looking compliance is a serious differentiator. Buyers are steering clear of tools that may invite legal headaches down the road. And with procurement timelines already averaging three months and longer, any uncertainty around regulatory exposure only extends the buying cycle. Simply put: AI tools that are designed to align with both current and future compliance expectations are more likely to earn buyer trust—and close deals faster.

3. Ethical AI and sustainability

Even when the tech is legal and compliant, that doesn’t mean it’s ethical—and AI buyers know the difference. The topic of ethical and environmental concerns have been present since the inception of AI. 

Ethical questions begin at the foundation: how was this model trained? Was the data collected ethically? Was there consent? Were diverse datasets used to minimize bias? Buyers are not just asking these questions—they’re expecting detailed answers. According to research from Cloud Factory, AI buyers want transparency into data provenance, assurance around intellectual property rights, and proactive efforts toward bias mitigation. 

But the ethics conversation doesn’t stop there. Sustainability is quickly emerging as another axis of responsibility. Training large-scale AI models requires massive computational resources—and the environmental footprint is staggering. A single generative AI query consumes far more energy than a traditional web search. Data centers are driving up water usage, with some reports pointing to impacts on local drinking water supplies. Energy consumption is projected to hit 1,000 terawatts by 2026—a figure comparable to Japan’s annual energy usage. 

For the modern AI buyer, these aren’t abstract concerns. They’re material risks that could trigger reputational damage, public backlash, or internal resistance. No one wants to invest in a “cutting-edge” AI solution only to face accusations of greenwashing or bias. Vendors that proactively address these concerns—from environmentally conscious model design to full transparency in training processes—gain a serious competitive edge. 

Trust first, value always

Today’s AI buyer isn’t just purchasing a piece of software—they’re making a values-driven decision. From compliance to environmental impact, from privacy to bias mitigation, the criteria for evaluating AI tools have multiplied. And while this complexity might slow down the procurement process, it’s also an opportunity: vendors who proactively address these concerns can become trusted partners, not just providers. 

For those hoping to sell AI in 2025 and beyond, the message is simple: show your work. Prove your ethics. Demonstrate compliance. And never underestimate the power of a well-informed buyer.