In 2026, every vendor is effectively an AI vendor, as the technology is embedded deeper into products and services, reshaping compliance and contracting considerations. That shift is creating tension in negotiations, as vendors and customers both seek to reap AI’s business benefits. This checklist offers a structured approach to navigating those pressures, providing detailed advice for crafting vendor contracts involving AI tools and services. It includes preparatory steps for negotiations as well as six core AI-specific clauses to address risk. See our four-part series on compliance representations and warranties: “Definitions and Goals” (Mar. 25, 2026), “Negotiations” (Apr. 8, 2026), “Verification and Enforcement” (May 6, 2026), and “Adapting to Emerging Risks” (Jul. 1, 2026).