Dependency on a provider’s proprietary APIs, data formats, or workflows that makes switching costly—distinct from sticker price or TCO alone.
Lock-in shows up in bespoke fine-tunes trapped on one platform, non-portable agent frameworks, or data egress fees. Mitigations include abstraction layers, portable formats, and multi-provider testing early—topics adjacent to total cost of ownership.
With AI
Balance speed of vendor SDKs against replaceability; document exit criteria before renewal negotiations.