Service
AI Chatbot Development
AI Pod Studios builds AI chatbots for websites, intake and internal help desks that answer from approved knowledge only and hand off to a human or form when they don't know. Ship a first version in the $5,000 two-week AI Sprint, then iterate with 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
- Approved knowledge base and guardrails
- Website or Slack chat widget
- Lead capture / human handoff
- Conversation logging for review
Process
- 01
Collect approved answers and edge cases
- 02
Build guardrails and widget in the Sprint
- 03
Review logged conversations weekly
- 04
Expand topics at $50/hr
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 Chatbot Development FAQ
+Will the chatbot make things up?
We restrict answers to an approved knowledge base and instruct the bot to say when it doesn't know and offer a handoff.
+Can it capture leads?
Yes — the bot can route visitors to your lead form or CRM when they ask for a quote.
+Where does it run?
On your website, in Slack, or inside your app — decided in the SOW.
AI Pod Lab Sprint
$5,000. Two weeks. Working code you own.
Then roll straight into $50/hr engineering — or stop. Your call.