Service
AI Agent Development
AI Pod Studios builds AI agents that take multi-step actions — researching, drafting, updating records and calling tools — with clear limits and logs. Prototype one agent in the $5,000 two-week AI Sprint, then harden it with a Senior Lead at $75/hr and engineers at $50/hr.
By AI Pod Studios Media Team · Updated
How we compare
| AI Pod Studios | US full-time hire | Typical agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published hourly rate | $50/hr engineer · $75/hr lead | Salary + benefits (varies) | Rates not published |
| Time to start | Slack within 7 business days of MSA/SOW + deposit | Full hiring cycle | Not published |
| Commitment | Month-to-month, 2 weeks' notice | Employment | Typically project contract |
| Replacement | Free swap in first 2 weeks | Re-hire | Not published |
| IP ownership | Assigned to client | Employer | Per contract |
| Fixed-price pilot | $5,000 two-week Sprint | — | Not published |
"Rates not published" means we could not find a published figure; verify with each provider.
Deliverables
- Agent design with explicit tool permissions
- Tool integrations and action logs
- Test scenarios from real tasks
- Escalation to humans on uncertainty
Process
- 01
Define the task and what the agent may never do
- 02
Prototype in the Sprint
- 03
Test on real scenarios
- 04
Harden with a Senior Lead
Pricing
| Option | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| AI Engineer | $50/hr | Vetted engineer, part-time or full-time |
| Senior Lead | $75/hr | Architecture, reviews, delivery lead |
| The Pod: 1 Senior Lead + 2 AI Engineers, full-time in your Slack | $75/hr Lead + $50/hr Engineers | Pod totals quoted on your scoping call |
| AI Sprint (by AI Pod Lab) | $5,000 flat | 2 weeks, scoped build, code is yours |
AI Agent Development FAQ
+How do you keep an agent safe?
Agents get only the tools they need, log every action, and escalate to a human when unsure.
+Agent or chatbot — which do we need?
A chatbot answers questions; an agent takes actions. We help you decide on the scoping call.
+Who maintains the agent?
Your team owns the code; you can keep our engineers month-to-month or take it in-house.
AI Pod Lab Sprint
$5,000. Two weeks. Working code you own.
Then roll straight into $50/hr engineering — or stop. Your call.