AI, Agents & Machine Learning
AI that fits into real decisions, with people in the loop
Machine learning, generative AI and agents, integrated into the applications and processes where decisions are made, with evaluation, guardrails and human review designed in.
What it is
This service covers the full path from data to working AI. On the machine learning (ML) side, that means features, training, a model registry, deployment and monitoring, run through machine learning operations (MLOps) practices. On the generative AI (GenAI) side, it means large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) over your documents, vector search and embeddings, prompt management, and LLMOps, the equivalent discipline for language models, to test and release changes safely.
We also design AI agents and agentic workflows, in which a model plans steps and uses tools such as search, databases and business applications to complete a task. Agents are given narrow permissions, clear limits and human-in-the-loop approval for consequential actions. Applications range from document intake and claims triage to advisor support and knowledge search.
Problems it addresses
- Experiments in notebooks never reach production because deployment, monitoring and ownership are missing.
- Teams adopt GenAI tools with no inventory, approval path or view of what data leaves the organization.
- Answers are fluent but not grounded in approved sources, and nobody can show how they were produced.
- Models degrade over time, and nobody notices until a user complains.
- Features are rebuilt for each project, so results differ and effort is repeated.
- It is unclear which tasks suit agents and which still need a person to decide.
What we deliver
- Use case selection and feasibility assessment, with data readiness, risk tiering and success criteria.
- ML pipelines with a feature store, experiment tracking, a model registry and automated release.
- RAG assistants over governed content, with source citations and access-aware retrieval.
- Agent designs with defined tools, scoped permissions, approval steps and full action logs.
- An evaluation framework with test sets, quality metrics, red-team tests and regression checks.
- Guardrails for inputs and outputs, including filtering of personal information and policy checks.
- Monitoring of quality, drift, latency, cost and usage, with alerts and rollback.
- Human-in-the-loop review workflows, documentation and training for reviewers.
Our method
How we work
We follow our four-step method, and each step ends with a review where you can pause, adjust or stop. See the full method.
Discovery & Strategy
We rank candidate use cases, confirm data access and agree the evaluation criteria, risk tier and human oversight points.
Pilot & Validation
A pilot runs on real or representative data, with results measured against the agreed criteria and reviewed by the people who will use it.
Build & Scale
Approved designs move to production with pipelines, a registry, guardrails, monitoring and documentation for model risk teams.
Optimize & Evolve
We watch quality and drift, tune prompts and models, and extend to new use cases as confidence grows.
Technologies
Technologies we commonly work with
These are examples of tools we commonly work with, from managed model services to open-source frameworks. We select models and services by use case, data sensitivity and cost, and we avoid unnecessary lock-in.
AI and GenAI
Machine learning, generative AI and agents, built with evaluation, guardrails and human review.
- Azure OpenAI ServiceLarge language models delivered through Azure with enterprise controls.
- Amazon BedrockManaged access to foundation models, agents and guardrails on AWS.
- Google Vertex AIGoogle Cloud platform for machine learning and generative AI.
- Amazon SageMakerManaged service to build, train and deploy machine learning models.
- Azure Machine LearningAzure service for training, deploying and monitoring models.
- Hugging FaceOpen models, datasets and libraries for machine learning.
- LangChainFramework for building retrieval and agent workflows.
- MLflowExperiment tracking and model registry for MLOps.
- Vector databasesEmbedding stores such as pgvector, Azure AI Search and OpenSearch for retrieval.
Data platforms
Warehouses, lakes and lakehouses where governed data is stored, modeled and shared.
- DatabricksLakehouse platform for data engineering, SQL analytics and machine learning.
- SnowflakeCloud data platform for warehousing, sharing and analytics.
- Microsoft FabricUnified analytics platform with OneLake, pipelines and Power BI.
- Google BigQueryServerless data warehouse with built-in machine learning.
- Amazon RedshiftCloud data warehouse in the AWS ecosystem.
- Azure Synapse AnalyticsAnalytics service combining warehousing and big data on Azure.
- Delta LakeOpen table format that adds reliability to data lake storage.
- Apache IcebergOpen table format for large analytic tables across engines.
Cloud
The three major clouds we design and build on, shaped around the estate you already run.
- AWSAmazon Web Services: broad infrastructure, data and AI services.
- Microsoft AzureMicrosoft's cloud, closely tied to Microsoft 365, Fabric and Entra ID.
- Google CloudGoogle's cloud, known for BigQuery, Dataplex and Vertex AI.
- Cloud object storageAmazon S3, Azure Data Lake Storage and Google Cloud Storage as lake foundations.
Governance and security
Catalogs, lineage, access control and key management that make data and AI auditable.
- Microsoft PurviewData catalog, classification and governance across Microsoft estates.
- Unity CatalogUnified governance for data and AI assets on Databricks.
- CollibraData governance and catalog platform for policies and stewardship.
- AWS Lake FormationFine-grained access control for data lakes on AWS.
- Google DataplexData management and governance across Google Cloud data.
- Azure Key VaultManaged storage for secrets, keys and certificates on Azure.
- AWS KMSManaged encryption keys for services and applications on AWS.
- Microsoft Entra IDIdentity and access management for people and workloads.
- OpenLineageOpen standard for collecting data lineage across tools.
- Great ExpectationsOpen source framework for data quality checks.
These tools are examples of what we commonly work with, listed as text only. We are vendor-neutral and recommend what fits your estate. Product names belong to their owners, and their appearance here does not imply a partnership, endorsement or certification.
Governance and compliance
AI raises questions that ordinary software does not, so we plan for governance from the first design session. That includes an inventory of models and agents, intended-use documentation, testing for accuracy and bias, human review, logging and model risk management. Regimes and frameworks we treat as context include the EU AI Act, Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) guideline E-23 on model risk, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework and ISO/IEC 42001, together with privacy laws such as Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Sector rules in financial services and healthcare add more. See our AI governance guide and OSFI model risk article. Your compliance function decides what applies.
Ways to start
Engagement options
Most clients begin with an assessment or a pilot. Scope, owners and success measures are agreed in writing for each option, and the options can be combined.
Assessment
An AI readiness and use case assessment with risk tiering, a data review and a recommended first pilot.
Pilot
One use case built and evaluated against agreed criteria, with reviewers in the loop and a decision on whether to scale.
Build
Production delivery of ML pipelines, RAG assistants or agents, with evaluation, guardrails, monitoring and documentation.
Advisory retainer
Ongoing guidance on model choice, evaluation, risk reviews and new use cases while your team operates the systems.
This page is general information about ARCHR services. It is not legal, financial or investment advice, and it does not assure compliance with any regulation.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do your AI systems make decisions on their own?
Our designs typically keep qualified people in the loop for consequential decisions, with logging so that each outcome can be reviewed.
Which models and platforms do you use?
We select models and services by use case, data sensitivity and your cloud, on AWS, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud, and avoid unnecessary lock-in.
How do you evaluate an AI pilot?
Against success criteria agreed before the build, such as accuracy on a labeled sample, types of error, groundedness of answers and the effect on reviewer workload.
How do you reduce the risk of incorrect AI answers?
By grounding answers in approved sources, setting guardrails, testing against evaluation sets, monitoring in production and routing uncertain cases to people. Risk is reduced, not removed.
Let's talk about your data and AI priorities
Tell us what you are trying to solve. We aim to reply within one business day.