An optional monthly contract after a Build. We host the system, monitor it, swap models when needed, and respond to incidents. The keys are always on the table. 30 days' notice and we hand it back, with the documentation already current.
Operate is scope-defined, not activity-based. Rule 05 holds: capped, narrow, terminable monthly. We don't sell "general AI partnership"; we sell named operations on a named system.
Every Operate contract includes four clauses that make "you own it" real. Most managed-service shops claim ownership transfer in marketing but not in the contract. We put it in the contract.