No jargon, no hype – just practical expertise 🧑‍💻 in building ambitious AI systems 🤖 that solve real problems 💡
Trusted by industry leaders
I have worked with Barnacle Labs for more than 3 years on a project at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Duncan and JD were amazing – they treated the work like a collaboration, always investing their creativity and bringing their curiosity. So many times their great ideas became part of the next iteration and they went above and beyond. If you are looking for a partner in AI, I couldn’t recommend them more.
What we do.
We build AI Agents that redefine business and science.
AI Agents for Business
We build AI Agents that redefine customer service and sales with text, voice and images, automate complex workflows, and help reimagine your business model for an AI-powered future.
AI Agents for Science
We build AI Agents to analyse scientific data, create research networks for collaboration, and develop scientific computing tools that accelerate breakthroughs.
Research
A research programme pushing new directions to meet enduring human challenges—and to sharpen the capabilities behind everything we do.
The Prompt Factory
Our initiative to democratise AI knowledge — spreading awareness, building understanding, and developing practical skills by sharing the knowledge we gain from building AI solutions.
Explore The Prompt FactoryOur Approach.
We Work With You
Instead of traditional consultants, we embed an AI Forward Deployed Engineer (AI-FDE) directly into your operations. An AI-FDE is a combination of technical lead, consultant, and AI engineer—all in one. They embody AI expertise, consulting and communication skills, together with a high degree of creativity.
Unlike consultants who carry slide decks, our AI-FDE's bring a toolkit of code. They speak to everyone from front-line workers to C-Suite executives, understand your challenges, design AI solutions and rapidly build proof of concepts to bring ideas to life.
Your AI-FDE is backed by our full lab-based engineering and research team, ensuring they have cutting-edge expertise and resources to tackle even the most complex challenges.
We Embed in Your Team
By living your day-to-day challenges firsthand, our AI-FDEs spot AI opportunities that external consultants miss entirely
Working Code, not Slide Decks
Proof-of-concept solutions that demonstrate ROI and validate ideas, giving you confidence to move forward with major investments
Fast Pace
Using AI-powered development tools, we build working prototypes in days and enable confident decisions in weeks, not months of planning
Our 2-Week Discovery Process
We start every engagement with a focused 2-week discovery where our AI-FDE embeds with your team to understand your specific requirements and build a working proof of concept.
Download 2-Week Engagement Overview* The forward deployed engineering model is used by leading technology companies including Palantir and OpenAI for mission-critical implementations.