Articles · July 29, 2026
AI Architects vs Forward Deployed Engineers
Two names for embedded AI engineers — and one meaningful difference in who the engineer works for.
The full piece is in progress. The short version: a forward deployed engineer (FDE) is deployed by a vendor — Palantir coined the role, and the AI labs run on it — usually to make that vendor's platform succeed inside your business. A HumanAI AI Architect does the same embedded, hands-on work, but works for your business instead: they design the solution, build it, and stay through the build.