# How early FDE workers are surviving a chaotic AI deployment market

> Original title: 起底第一批FDE的「生存实录」

- Source: Leiphone
- Published: 2026-11-02T06:33:00.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/ebr3o6q1o19tb5qocxc7kjru8
- Original: https://www.leiphone.com/category/industrynews/WI4VDJIEZ7JaouRq.html

## Summary

Chinese tech outlet Leiphone reports that forward-deployed engineers (FDEs) doing AI deployment work face unclear pricing, scope creep, and unclear roles inside consulting firms. One sales lead cut a planned million-yuan AI forecasting project to a 100,000-yuan deal, and one FDE reports a bid of 8 million yuan for a supply-chain project that he estimates would normally cost 400,000 to 600,000 yuan.